Rose Cherry Brandy

Striking hybrid tea rose bred by Germany’s famed Tantau Roses and introduced in 2004. Renowned for its brilliant copper-orange blooms and excellent performance as a cut flower, Cherry Brandy has become a worldwide favorite among florists and gardeners alike. This rose captivates with its unusual two-toned petals, vigorous growth, and continuous flowering habit.

FLOWERING

While ‘Cherry Brandy’ is celebrated in florist circles, it is equally rewarding in the garden - with a few considerations. In the landscape it forms a medium-tall, bushy shrub that blooms repeatedly from late spring until frost. It belongs to the class of hybrid teas often called “garden and florist” roses, meaning it has the pedigree of a cut rose but can be grown outdoors like any other garden rose. Indeed, ‘Cherry Brandy’ demonstrates continuous and abundant flowering, especially if regularly deadheaded: the plant pushes out new buds in flushes throughout the season with only brief rests between bloom cycles. Thanks to its vigorous constitution, it produces a good number of flowering shoots; although typically one large bud per stem, the rose often compensates with many basal shoots and laterals, hence a well-established bush can carry multiple blooms at once for a showy display. The blooms handle rain reasonably well - the petals are not too prone to rot or balling in wet weather, so the rose withstands rain without losing its blooms.

Each long, sturdy stem typically bears a single shapely bud, occasionally 1 - 3 per stem on strong laterals. The buds are elegant and high-centered (turbinated), unfurling slowly - a hallmark of exhibition-style Hybrid Teas. As the bloom opens, it reveals a very full flower form. Flowers average about 8–10 cm (3–4 inches) in diameter when fully open, and are packed with an estimated 35 - 45 petals on average (some blooms can have even more under ideal conditions, giving a lush “very full” look). The petal shape is somewhat ruffled – edges often wavy or subtly notched, lending a delicate, lace-like effect to the bloom.

The coloration is where ‘Cherry Brandy’ truly stands out. The rose exhibits a stunning bi-color or blend: the inner petals are a warm apricot-orange or golden peach tone, while the outer petal reverses (and petal edges) flush to a deep cherry, wine, or fuchsia-red hue. This creates a vivid “sunset” color effect, as if each bloom were aglow with coppery orange at the center and brushed with cherry-brandy red on the outer layers. Fresh blooms may appear more intensely two-toned - whereas in the garden sunlight the colors can soften. As the flower matures, the dominant copper-orange fades toward yellow at the edges, but without losing its charm. This dynamic coloring, reminiscent of the cherry liqueur that inspired its name, ensures ‘Cherry Brandy’ never looks dull. Gardeners often remark that no other rose quite matches its unique multi-hued palette, from amber and peach to rose-red, often all in one bloom. Though bred primarily for cut-flower use, ‘Cherry Brandy’ offers a pleasant fragrance that adds to its appeal. The scent is a light fruity perfume with sweet hints that some liken to cherry and honey - evocative of a cherry brandy cordial. It is generally moderate, not overwhelming but noticeable on a warm day or when you bring a bloom to your nose. Under ideal conditions, especially in cooler evening air, the perfume can intensify to reveal rich Damask and liquor-like notes that surprise those expecting a scentless florist rose. This fruity-floral aroma makes ‘Cherry Brandy’ suitable for planting in scent gardens or near outdoor seating, where its bouquet can be enjoyed up close. ‘Cherry Brandy’ was bred with the professional cut-flower industry in mind, and it shows in its performance in the vase. First and foremost, it offers an exceptional vase life for a rose. When harvested and conditioned properly, ‘Cherry Brandy’ blooms can last around 10–15 days in arrangements, which is notably long-lived. Florists praise that the blooms open slowly and gracefully, often holding a high-centered form for days before fully reflexing, which extends their useful life in bouquets. Even when fully open, the petals of ‘Cherry Brandy’ tend to stay firm and attractive, and they are not prone to shattering quickly - a key trait for event work where flowers need to look fresh over many hours.

The stems and blooms are also tailored for floristry. Stems are strong and straight, typically produced in lengths of 50–70 cm (20–28 inches) or more on well-grown plants. This length provides versatility - long enough for dramatic arrangements and bouquets, yet manageable for centerpiece designs. The stem caliper is sturdy enough to support the large bloom without bending or drooping; combined with the rose’s low thorn count, this makes handling and arranging much easier on designers’ hands.

PLANT

‘Cherry Brandy’ is classified as a Hybrid Tea rose. The plant grows upright on its own roots, forming a tall, slender shrub about 70 - 120 cm in height (approximately 2½ - 4 feet) with a spread of around 50 - 70 cm. Its growth habit is vigorous yet refined - slender, upright canes with a generally erect posture. Notably, the stems carry very few thorns, making it a relatively “friendly” rose to handle despite its Hybrid Tea lineage.

The foliage is abundant and ornamental, the leaves are large, leathery, and glossy, emerging with a reddish tint on new growth and maturing to a healthy green hue. The foliage is rich dark-green with a lustrous sheen. The number of leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is generally 5, including the terminal leaflet. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and large.

In terms of hardiness and climate, ‘Cherry Brandy’ performs admirably for a Hybrid Tea. It is rated hardy to about USDA zone 6 (tolerating winter lows around -20°C with protection). When grown in cold climates, standard winterizing practices (autumn pruning, mulching, and covering) will usually see the plant safely through freezes - even if canes die back, the rose can reshoot from the base in spring. In milder regions, it remains a solid perennial that doesn’t require coddling. ‘Cherry Brandy’ also handles summer climates well: it has good heat and drought tolerance, continuing to flower through hot spells provided it has adequate water. One point to note is that the bright petal colors may bleach in harsh direct sun - intense midday sunlight can cause the blooms’ red tones to dull or petal edges to singe slightly. Therefore, in very sunny climates, a site with light afternoon shade or filtered sun can help preserve the best color on the blooms.

On the disease resistance front, ‘Cherry Brandy’ performs admirably for a Hybrid tea. In many trials and gardener reports, it shows strong resistance to common rose fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew. Its thick, glossy foliage seems relatively less susceptible to black spot infection, and any mildew on new shoots is rarely severe (good air circulation and sunlight in the garden help, of course).Overall it has a reputation as a healthy variety - certainly better than many older hybrid teas in this regard. Nevertheless, basic care (proper spacing, clean-up of fallen leaves, and preventive sprays if needed) will ensure ‘Cherry Brandy’ foliage stays attractive all season. In warmer humid climates, gardeners have found it still fares well, often outshining comparable roses that might defoliate from fungus; in cooler dry climates it remains virtually trouble-free.

It’s also noted to be fairly drought-tolerant once established, which means occasional lapses in watering won’t immediately ruin its flowering. These qualities make it a relatively low-fuss rose in terms of bloom production and weather resilience.

In the garden, the primary role of rose variety ‘Cherry Brandy’ is often as a cutting rose - a plant grown for producing lavish blooms to bring indoors. It excels in a designated cutting bed or rose border where flowers can be harvested at the ideal half-open stage. However, it is also a decorative landscape shrub in its own right. The glowing blooms against the bush’s green foliage can be a real focal point in mixed borders. Planting ‘Cherry Brandy’ in small groups (of 3 or more) can amplify its impact; Tantau recommends about 5 - 6 plants per square meter for massed effect. When grouped, the flushes of coppery blooms create a standout display, drawing the eye with their unusual coloring. This rose also integrates well into mixed perennial beds – the apricot and cherry tones complement flowers in bronze, purple, or cream shades for a rich color tapestry. Its upright habit means it won’t sprawl over neighbors, and it can be underplanted with lower edging plants if desired. It also responds nicely to training as a standard tree rose or growing in a large container, thanks to its vigorous yet tidy growth. Potted specimens (in at least 15–20 gallon containers) will bloom repeatedly on patios, though they may need winter protection in colder zones.

Because of its cut-flower heritage, some gardeners note that ‘Cherry Brandy’ may not carry as many blooms at one time as, say, a floribunda rose bred for mass color. It tends to put energy into fewer but larger blooms. For this reason, a solo ‘Cherry Brandy’ bush in the landscape might not always be covered in flowers, but rather cycles through heavy bloom flushes followed by periods of rebudding. This is typical of many hybrid teas. In the garden, few flowers can compete with its unique color blend, so even a single well-placed ‘Cherry Brandy’ can serve as a showpiece. And of course, having such a superb cut rose at one’s disposal means the garden can also provide exquisite indoor arrangements.

It is unrelated to an older Tantau rose of the same name from 1985, the modern ‘Cherry Brandy’ being a distinct 21st-century introduction.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Cherry Brandy’s journey began at the Rosen Tantau breeding program in Germany. It was hybridized in 2001 by the Tantau team (headed at the time by renowned breeder Hans Jürgen Evers in collaboration with his son Christian Evers) and went through several years of evaluation before its debut. The rose was officially introduced to commerce in 2004 under the name ‘Cherry Brandy’ – a nod to the rich cherry-orange color of its blooms and perhaps a playful reference to the cherry brandy liqueur. The rose quickly gained popularity worldwide, becoming one of Tantau’s “flagship” cut rose varieties of the 2000s alongside others like ‘Prestige’ and ‘Sweet Haze’.

The exact parentage of ‘Cherry Brandy’ has not been publicly disclosed, like many modern rose hybrids, its lineage is likely proprietary information, as cut rose breeding is highly competitive.

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