Rose Admiral

'Admiral' is a richly coloured Hybrid Tea rose whose nearly black buds open into large, velvety ruby-red flowers. It combines the substantial blooms of a modern large-flowered rose with the generous petal arrangement associated with the Tantau’s Nostalgie collection. Its fragrance is particularly attractive: sweet and fruity, with a distinctive note of ripe pear. Upright, bushy growth makes it suitable for rose beds, mixed borders and a garden devoted to flowers for cutting. For gardeners who enjoy dark roses with both fragrance and an opulent flower form, 'Admiral' offers an appealing combination of depth, richness and repeat flowering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The variety 'Admiral' is nostalgic Hybrid Tea but its flowers develop a fuller, more rounded appearance than the narrow, high-centred silhouette often associated with exhibition roses. Its most distinctive feature is the progression from exceptionally dark buds to expansive ruby-red blooms. The petals in buds can appear almost black, especially where they overlap tightly. As the flower expands, the red becomes more apparent, while dark folds and shaded petal edges preserve its dramatic character. The overlapping petals produce alternating illuminated surfaces and dark recesses, giving the red a depth that a flatter, less densely filled bloom would not possess.

Rose 'Admiral' is suited to gardens where individual flowers matter as much as the overall planting. It can provide a focal point among softer pink, white or pale blue flowers, or contribute to a more concentrated composition of burgundy and crimson roses. Its usefulness for cutting extends that ornamental value indoors. The nostalgic flower form provides richness, while its modern repeat-flowering habit allows the display to return during the growing season.

FLOWERING

Rose variety 'Admiral' is a repeat flowering, producing successive flushes of flowers through summer and into autumn. In temperate European gardens, the main season generally begins around June, although spring temperatures, pruning and local exposure can advance or delay the first flowers. Autumn flowering continues while temperatures and light remain sufficient for new buds to develop.

Regular deadheading helps maintain a tidy appearance and supports subsequent flowering as some petals in flowers tend to hang on and dry, especially in more wet climates. Remove the spent bloom with a short portion of stem, cutting back to a healthy leaf and a viable bud. During wet weather, prompt removal of deteriorating flowers is particularly useful because densely packed petals can retain moisture. Adequate watering and nutrition between flushes help the plant rebuild the growth needed for its next display.

Flower bud:

The flower buds are generally broadly ovate and pointed, with the dark, closely wrapped petals creating the cultivar’s characteristic almost-black appearance. Their initial silhouette belongs recognisably to the Hybrid Tea tradition: a shaped, tapered bud precedes the much broader flower that follows. As the sepals separate and the outer petals loosen, ruby-red colouring becomes increasingly visible. The contrast between the dark bud and the expanding red flower is a part of its charm.

The sepals have a broadly lanceolate shape with pointed tip. The upper surface of the sepals has medium yellow green colour with strong purple red anthocyanin and glandular surface while the inner surface is covered with grayish-white glandular hairs. There are 3 lightly appendaged sepals and 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.

The peduncles are medium sized, thick and quite sturdy, capable of holding large and heavy blooms. The surface of the peduncle is smooth and has medium yellow-green colour strongly suffused with purple red anthocyanin pigmentation.

Bloom:

The fully open flowers of rose 'Admiral' are very large and full, approximately 12 - 14 cm (4.7 - 5.5 in) in diameter, making them the larger garden Hybrid Teas. Actual size typically varies with plant establishment, shoot strength, water supply and season; a young plant or a flower formed during stressful weather need not reach the upper end of that range. The flower form changes appreciably as it opens. In its early stages of opening it retains some of a Hybrid Tea character, after which the outer petals spread to form a substantial cup. When the flower continues to open the very densely packed centre demonstrates rosette form, recalling the richness of old garden roses. When fully open the petals demonstrate a perfect cupped quartered rosette.

The colour is outstanding for such a perfectly shaped flower, and varies from ruby red to burgundy with purplish-red tones becoming more evident as blooms mature. Light, temperature and petal position affect the perceived shade, so a bloom can appear brighter on its exposed surfaces and nearly black within its folds.

Such luxurious flowers predominantly appear singly on very strong flowering stems, while occasionally on strongest shoots 2 to 3 blooms may appear. The flowering canes are typically very long and strong, highly suitable for cutting and flower arrangements and its defining effect remains the prominence of each large flower.

Petals:

The flowers are very full, with numerous closely arranged petals, the number of the petals vary from about 50 to 80 petals. Broad outer petals form the cup, while more crowded inner petals create the folded centre. The petals have a rather thick and satiny texture surface and velvety appearance, enriching the visual quality of the dark red petals giving them more complex colouring. The overall formation of the petals is overlapping, curved and folded, visually creating quartered rosette shape. As the flower opens, its outline becomes less tightly ordered, and the inner arrangement contributes increasingly to its rosette-like appearance.

Darkening of the petals with maturity is typical for 'Admiral', although ageing eventually brings the usual loss of freshness and deterioration of the outer petals. On the downside, dense flowers of this rose may suffer from excessive water getting logged inside tightly folded petals in colder weather, which essentially can lead to balling. However in most climates the thick texture of the petals of 'Admiral' doesn't make this an issue and typically this rose does not suffer from balling.

Fragrance:

Fragrance is a significant feature of rose variety 'Admiral'. It is intensive, sweet and fruity, with pear-like notes. Remember that fragrance is variable and bloom age, temperature, humidity and the observer’s perception all influence the impression.

Reproductive parts:

The reproductive parts are typically fully concealed by the densely filled flower and not visible.

PLANT

Rose variety 'Admiral' is classified as modern Hybrid Tea rose and marketed by Rosen Tantau as a Nostalgie-Edelrose, or Nostalgic Hybrid Tea. Such designation is just an ornamental character rather than a separate botanical class. It remains a Hybrid Tea, but its flowers develop a fuller, more rounded appearance than the narrow, high-centred silhouette often associated with exhibition roses.

'Admiral' forms an upright, bushy, deciduous rose plant with relatively compact proportions. The mature and well-established plants of this rose reach in height about 80 - 120 cm (2.6 - 4 ft) and about 40 - 60 cm (1.3 - 2 ft), and the size of the plant varies with climate, pruning, rootstock and plant age. Its combination of upright flowering stems and basal branching makes it useful in the middle of a border, in dedicated rose beds, or as a small group. In a mixed planting, companions should leave room around the lower stems and avoid overwhelming the rose’s root zone. Pale flowers and silver or grey-green foliage can make its dark blooms more legible from a distance.

For this Hybrid Tea rose choose a sunny position with good air movement and soil that retains moisture while draining freely. Morning sun is particularly useful where foliar disease is common because it helps leaves dry. Improve poor soil with well-rotted organic matter across the planting area. Water newly planted roses thoroughly and continue to monitor moisture during establishment. Thereafter, deep watering during dry periods is preferable to frequent superficial wetting. Feed according to soil fertility and the fertiliser manufacturer’s directions, avoiding excessive nitrogen and late-season stimulation of soft growth in cold climates.

Prune in late winter or early spring as growth resumes, adjusting the timing to local frost conditions. Remove dead, damaged and crossing wood, then shorten the remaining healthy shoots to a balanced framework with outward-facing buds. Hybrid Tea pruning commonly favours fewer strong shoots capable of producing substantial flowers; the severity should reflect the plant’s vigour and the amount of winter damage. Periodic removal of ageing, unproductive canes helps renew the bush.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plant of the rose variety 'Admiral'. The medium sized foliage is dark green, semi-glossy, and leathery in appearance. It supplies a suitably substantial background for the flowers, reinforcing the plant’s rich colour palette without competing with the blooms.

Leaflets:

The leaves have the compound, pinnate organisation typical of modern garden roses. A terminal leaflet and paired lateral leaflets form the familiar rose leaf. The number of the leaflets on the medium sized leaves in the middle of the flowering stem is typically 5, including the terminal leaflet. The shape of the leaflets is broadly ovate with acute tip and rounded base, the edges of the leaflets are serrated, the type of serration is single and large.

Wood:

The canes of 'Admiral' are long, straight and stiff, with upright growth and good branching. The bush develops a concentrated framework capable of carrying large flowers above its foliage. Although the stems generally support the blooms well, flower weight can occasionally produce a slight inclination, particularly as flowers become fully expanded or wet. Sheltered positioning helps preserve the presentation of the flowers while avoiding excessive movement of long shoots. The young canes of this rose have medium green colour with strong purple red anthocyanin pigmentation and have smooth bark.

Prickles:

There is from a normal quantity to few prickles present on the main canes from the base and few prickles on the laterals from the main canes of the rose variety 'Admiral'. The prickles where present are large, have broad based pyramidal shape and purple red colour when young.

Small prickles:

Small prickles are not typically observed on the main canes from the base as well as on the laterals or on flowering stems of this rose under normal growing conditions.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

Rose variety 'Admiral' has generally good health and is noted for good foliage health. The resistance of this rose to black spot and rust is very strong and resistance to powdery mildew is strong. remain relevant risks, especially where local weather and disease pressure are favourable to infection. The flowers of this rose show good resistance to botrytis.

The RHS assigned a rose 'Admiral' rating H6, corresponding to hardiness for winter conditions around −20 to −15°C (−4 to 5°F), which roughly corresponds to USDA zone 6 and warmer. In colder continental gardens, protect the crown and graft union with appropriate seasonal mounding after sustained cold begins. Reduce wind movement of long canes and remove protection progressively in spring. Severe autumn pruning is best avoided; assess winter injury before making the principal pruning cuts.

“Admiral” denotes a senior naval rank and functions here as the rose’s commercial name. Though no explanation from Tantau in regards to naming was ever disclosed.

As of the date 'Admiral' has not received any major rose awards.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety 'TAN08996' / 'Admiral' was bred by Christian Evers in Germany within the Rosen Tantau and was introduced to the market in 2017. The precise parentage was not officially disclosed for this rose and the seed parent and the pollen parent remain unknown.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The 'TAN08996' / 'Admiral' expands the borders of the Hybrid Tea roses class beyond classical high-centered shape to richly filled, often fragrant roses with contemporary garden usefulness. It is part of Tantau’s Nostalgie® collection and within that commercial collection, 'Admiral' occupies the dark red end of the palette. Its distinctive contribution is the combination of near-black buds, expansive ruby flowers and a sweet pear-like fragrance.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

'TAN08996' / 'Admiral' is a substantial, fragrant Hybrid Tea for gardeners who value dramatic individual flowers and repeated seasonal display. This rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  nearly black buds opening into velvety ruby-red flowers;

  large, full blooms developing from shaped buds into cups and quartered rosettes;

  sweet, fruity fragrance with a distinctive ripe-pear note;

  repeat flowering, upright, bushy growth habit and useful stems for cutting.

The propagation methods suitable for preserving 'Admiral' include: budding or grafting onto an appropriate rose rootstock follows established commercial Hybrid Tea practice; stem cuttings offer another possible route to plants retaining the cultivar’s identity.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

Since precise seed and pollen parents for 'TAN08996' / 'Admiral' are not officially disclosed the comparison with parents is not available.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

Rose variety 'Black Magic' provides a useful commercially available comparison within Tantau’s Hybrid Tea range. Both roses offer very dark red, velvety flowers, upright growth and suitability for cutting. Their shared colour family makes them plausible alternatives where a gardener wants a dark red rose with a strong individual presence.

Rose 'Black Magic' is slender and upright, with long stems and slowly opening flowers approximately 10 - 12 cm (3.9 - 4.7 in) in diameter and its fragrance is light. 'Admiral' generally offers a larger, more full and old-fashioned bloom and a substantially stronger fruity scent, with the characteristic pear note. The floral distinction is clearest as the flowers mature. 'Black Magic' represents the more conventional shaped high-centered Hybrid Tea presentation, while 'Admiral' develops a generous cupped quartered rosette.

USDA 6

USDA Zone 6 - hardiness guide