OKLAHOMA™ – dark red hybrid tea rose
Imagine stepping onto your coastal veranda after a breezy walk, sea air still on your skin, to find Oklahoma™ carrying its very strong, classic perfume on the wind: a tall, upright hybrid tea with elegance and character, bred for long, straight stems and large, velvety blooms that hold their form for cutting. Its deep burgundy-red flowers bring an instant sense of drama against shingle, timber and slate, while dense dark foliage adds reliable structure in gusty weather and offers reassuring anchorage in exposed spots where good drainage matters as much as shelter. As an own-root rose, it builds strength slowly but steadily, giving you a plant that recovers well from pruning and lives for the long term rather than peaking and fading. In a generous 40–50 litre container or a sunny, well-prepared border, one bush can supply a summer of bouquets and fragrant evening air, gently progressing from settling its roots in year one to fuller shoots in year two and then its richest ornamental presence by year three, perfect for a relaxed coastal retreat.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature rose on a coastal veranda |
Oklahoma™ forms a tall, upright bush that looks impressive in a single large 40–50 litre pot, giving height and deep colour without demanding complex care; its dense foliage copes well with brisk, salty breezes in typical Cornish or Devon settings – ideal for the busy veranda owner who wants quiet luxury, not fuss, beginners |
| Cutting bed for home-arranged bouquets |
The long, straight stems and high-centred, exhibition-type flowers are bred for vases, so one or two plants in a small cutting row will keep you in deeply coloured, classic blooms for the house over a long season, with reliable remontant flushes – suited to those who enjoy arranging flowers for the kitchen table, hobby-gardeners |
| Statement rose beside a seating area |
Planted near a favourite chair or sheltered tea corner, its very strong, garden-filling fragrance turns even a short pause outdoors into an occasion, especially on warm, still evenings, without the need for elaborate borders around it – perfect for homeowners who want impact from one well-chosen plant, homeowners |
| Small family garden focal point |
Its upright, bushy habit and 130–170 cm height mean it occupies a modest footprint yet reads as a clear focal point from windows or patios, allowing you to build a simple layout around one structural rose rather than many small plants – helpful for time-pressed families planning straightforward spaces, family-gardeners |
| Mixed border with grasses and perennials |
The dark blooms contrast beautifully with silver or blue grasses and foliage, such as Calamagrostis, sea kale or Festuca, while the dense dark green leaves give a solid backdrop that holds the scene together even between flushes – appealing to design-conscious gardeners who like effortless cohesion, coastal-style-lovers |
| Own-root rose for long-lived planting |
Supplied on its own roots, Oklahoma™ establishes gradually but repays patience with stable growth that regenerates from the base after harder pruning or weather damage, providing dependable ornamental value over many years with fewer worries about graft failure – ideal for those seeking plantings that mature gracefully, long-term-planners |
| Clay-improved, well-drained coastal border |
In heavier soils typical of many UK gardens, a well-prepared planting hole with added grit and compost lets its roots anchor securely, and once settled the upright framework stands up convincingly to wet, windy spells off the sea, reducing the need for staking or frequent intervention – reassuring for gardeners dealing with challenging ground, practical-owners |
| Collector’s or connoisseur’s rose corner |
With heritage parentage and a gold medal from Tokyo, this cultivar offers a sense of history and refinement, rewarding a little routine care with exhibition-style flowers and a distinguished, velvety colour that feels at home among carefully chosen shrubs and heirloom varieties – suited to enthusiasts who enjoy characterful choices, collectors |
Styling ideas
- Harbour-Veranda – Pair Oklahoma™ in a 50 litre tub with sea kale and blue Festuca for a simple, maritime look – for coastal-style-lovers wanting drama without high maintenance
- Tea-Corner – Flank a small seating area with two bushes underplanted with Heuchera to echo the dark foliage – for homeowners who value fragrant pauses more than garden chores
- Evening-Cuttings – Dedicate a narrow bed to Oklahoma™ and a light grass like Calamagrostis for easy cutting and soft movement – for hobby-gardeners who like to bring the garden indoors
- Front-Garden-Focus – Use a single plant as a vertical accent by the path, framed with low lavender for scent layers – for busy urban gardeners needing clear structure in limited space
- Collector’s-Duo – Combine Oklahoma™ with a contrasting pale hybrid tea in a sheltered border to show off form and colour – for collectors who appreciate classic exhibition roses
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Oklahoma™ is a hybrid tea rose registered as ‘Oklahoma’, honoured for the US state where it was bred, and classified within the hybrid tea exhibition group for garden and cutting use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in the United States in 1963 by Herbert C. Swim and O. L. Weeks at Oklahoma State University, from ‘Chrysler Imperial’ × ‘Charles Mallerin’, introduced by Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower. |
| Awards and recognition |
Awarded a Gold Medal at the Japan Rose Concours in Tokyo in 1963, reflecting its high ornamental and exhibition value, particularly for bloom form, colour richness and fragrance strength. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy growth reaching around 130–170 cm high and 100–140 cm wide, with moderately thorny stems and dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage that creates a solid structural presence. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, high-centred blooms with over 40 petals, typically borne singly on stems, with a classic pointed-bud hybrid tea profile and a remontant habit delivering a generous second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety burgundy-red blooms with blackish undertones; buds are near-black, opening to dark red and gradually shifting towards a brownish red, with overall effect remaining richly dark before petal drop. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling scent of classic sweet rose character, particularly noticeable in still, warm conditions, making it highly suitable for planting near seating areas, entrances and frequently used paths. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small ellipsoid red hips about 12–18 mm in diameter, adding a subtle decorative note in late season but generally not a dominant ornamental feature compared with the flowers. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7; Swedish Zone 3; USDA 6b), with moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, benefiting from standard preventive care in damp seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to sunny, well-prepared sites with good drainage; medium maintenance with occasional pest and disease control, spaced around 100–175 cm depending on use, and ideal for 40–50 litre containers when potted. |
Oklahoma™ combines tall, elegant form, richly scented dark-red blooms and the steady resilience of an own-root plant, making it a thoughtful choice for those planning a long-lived, atmospheric garden scene.
