HENRIETTA – yellow-red hybrid tea rose - McGredy
Bring a sense of coastal refreshment to your garden with ‘Henrietta’, a tall, upright hybrid tea whose bicoloured blooms glow like late-afternoon sun over Cornish shingle. Large, high-centred flowers in scarlet and lemon-yellow appear repeatedly from early summer well into autumn, giving a long, reliable season of colour with very little fuss. Dense, glossy foliage clothes the strong stems, helping the bush stand firm where gardens face brisk sea air and frequent showers in a setting of steady wind and well-managed drainage and moisture. Planted in the ground or in a generous 40–50 litre container, this robust, disease-resistant cultivar settles quickly and then rewards you year after year. Own-root plants like this develop steadily – first roots, then shoots, then full ornamental value by about the third year – giving a stable, long-lived feature. Ideal beside a veranda, where you can enjoy its changing colour tones and elegant cut stems over relaxed garden tea with a hint of seaside romance.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Small coastal front garden bed |
Tall, upright growth with dense foliage makes ‘Henrietta’ a natural visual anchor in compact front gardens, where a single plant can provide structure without dominating space; ideal for those wanting easy height with minimal shaping, especially beginners. |
| Feature rose beside a veranda seating area |
The large, high-centred flowers and glowing yellow-red colour shifts are striking at eye level near seating, offering a changing focal point from early summer to autumn with little maintenance, suiting relaxed evenings for busy homeowners. |
| Cutting patch for home arrangements |
Solitary, exhibition-style blooms on long, straight stems are perfect for vases, giving you reliable, home-grown cut flowers over a long season without specialist know-how, appealing to those who enjoy simple, elegant indoor displays as hobby florists. |
| Mixed border in a family back garden |
Good disease resistance and own-root resilience mean ‘Henrietta’ keeps its foliage and form over many years, even in lived-in family gardens, reducing spraying and replanting for those seeking dependable structure as practical family gardeners. |
| Coastal-style shingle or gravel planting |
The strong framework and glossy leaves help the plant stand steady and look composed where gardens face brisk sea air and frequent showers in a setting of steady wind and well-managed drainage and moisture, fitting relaxed coastal schemes for seaside lovers. |
| Large patio container (40–50 litre) |
In a generous container, the upright habit and repeat-flowering performance give months of colour on balconies or patios, with watering and feeding easy to manage at waist height, ideal for low-effort displays favoured by urban gardeners. |
| Informal, low-maintenance rose grouping |
Low maintenance needs and repeat flowering make it a strong choice for loose groups of two or three plants, creating a long-lasting block of colour without complex pruning routines, reassuring for those who prefer straightforward care as casual gardeners. |
| Long-term focal point in clay-based soil |
Once established on its own roots, ‘Henrietta’ forms a durable, well-branched framework that copes with typical UK clay soils when drainage is improved, offering an enduring accent for gardeners planning ahead as thoughtful planners. |
Styling ideas
- Seaside Veranda Focus – Position ‘Henrietta’ in a 50 litre tub near railings, underplanted with blue Festuca for a salty-breeze feel – ideal for coastal veranda owners.
- Shingle Drift Border – Plant in a gravel strip with sea kale and silver foliage perennials to echo beach shingle tones – suited to coastal-style enthusiasts.
- Elegant Cut-Flower Corner – Grow two plants with simple green groundcover to keep stems clean for cutting – perfect for home floristry fans.
- Family-Friendly Feature Bed – Use as a tall centrepiece surrounded by low lavender and Crocosmia for easy colour – designed for busy family gardeners.
- Urban Patio Statement – Single specimen in a large container with soft pink companions for a “girly” look – appealing to balcony and small-terrace owners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as MACtexa, marketed as Henrietta Hybrid tea rose MACtexa; ARS exhibition name ‘Henrietta’, own-root form in the vivianaROSE ORIGINAL 2-litre range. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Samuel Darragh McGredy IV, New Zealand; cross of ‘Heart of Gold’ × ‘Gold Medal’, introduced by McGredy Roses International in 1991 as a garden and exhibition hybrid tea. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy plant 150–200 cm tall and 90–120 cm wide, with dense, dark glossy foliage and moderate thorns; forms a strong framework suitable for specimens, groups and informal hedging. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, solitary, very double blooms with over 40 petals; classic high-centred, pointed-bud hybrid tea form, repeat-flowering with an especially abundant second flush in favourable seasons. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Yellow-red bicolour: ruby-scarlet outer petal surface and lemon-yellow inner base; tones shift through ochre, bright red and salmon-pink as flowers open, fade and age on the plant. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Classed as unscented; any perfume is extremely weak and not a feature of the variety, making it selected primarily for visual impact rather than for aromatic garden or cut-flower use. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is sparse due to very double flowers; occasional small, ellipsoidal orange-red hips 8–12 mm in diameter may develop, adding modest late-season interest where present. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good disease resistance with noted tolerance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA zone 6b) under normal garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with improved drainage on heavier soils; plant 60–110 cm apart depending on use, around 2 plants/m² for massing; suitable for beds, groups, hedging and home cut flowers. |
HENRIETTA – yellow-red hybrid tea rose - McGredy offers long-season colour, strong disease resistance and elegant cut blooms on a durable own-root framework, making it a thoughtful choice for lasting garden structure and simple enjoyment.
