.Velvet Fragrance is a hybrid tea bred in England by Gareth Fryer of Fryer’s Roses and introduced in 1984. As its name promises, it’s grown for scent. The fragrance is strong, rich and damask, and it won the Royal National Rose Society’s Edland Medal for fragrance. The blooms are large and full, about 11 cm across, in a deep, velvety crimson-red. They’re carried one to a long, sturdy stem, which makes them excellent for cutting, and they last well. It blooms continually through the season. The plant stays compact rather than leggy, about 90–120 cm tall, with dark foliage tinged copper. It’s rated hardy to zone 5 and does well in a container as well as a border.

A deep velvet-red hybrid tea with a strong, award-winning damask scent.