Hybrid Tea: Fragrant Cloud

The Standard for Rose Fragrance For Over 30 Years!

There are reasons why certain roses stand the test of time, maintaining their popularity year after year – unique color, perfectly-formed blooms, vigor, hardiness, disease resistance and intriguing names. But perhaps the most compelling reason of all is fragrance. It seduces the senses and lodges in the memory forever, making a particular rose unforgettable.

Fragrant Cloud is one such rose. It remains the standard for rose fragrance, more than 30 years after its introduction. And if awards are any indication of the merits of a rose, then Fragrant Cloud also qualifies as one of the greatest roses of all time.

Bred by Mathias Tantau of Germany, it won a Gold Medal from the National Rose Society of England (NRS) in 1963 and the President's International Trophy from the NRS in 1964. In 1967, it won a Gold Medal at the Portland, Oregon International Rose Garden, and in 1968, Jackson & Perkins introduced it to American gardeners as the coveted Rose of the Year® winner.

The most notable award in Fragrant Cloud's history, however, is the James Alexander Gamble Rose Fragrance Medal, which it won in 1969. Named for the renowned English rosarian who tested over 3,000 roses for fragrance, this American Rose Society (ARS) medal is awarded to a new rose with outstanding fragrance. Winners are not chosen lightly – a rose must have an all-around ARS rating of at least 8.0 (from a possible 10.0) to even be considered. In its 40-year existence, this prestigious medal has been awarded only ten times.

Fragrant Cloud is a true classic, a rose everyone should experience. Its large, slender, high-centered blooms spiral open slowly with perfect form. They’re showcased by large, dark green, glossy foliage on a vigorous, upright, free-branching plant with strong disease resistance and winter hardiness. A powerful re-bloomer, its bright, coral red color will literally glow in your garden all summer.

Garden Tales

Fragrant Cloud was the first rose I grew in my garden. Now, over twenty years later, I can recall fondly the impact this rose had on my choice of profession.

In 1979 and I had dropped out of college and moved back home to the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon. I landed a job with Jackson & Perkins, working in their Specialty Pack department. Among other things, this department processed rose orders that had been returned because of a wrong address. The policy was to remove customer information, then throw away the roses. One day I asked the lady processing the return mail if I could have one of the roses out of the garbage can. While this was against policy, Nellie (the kind lady) let me take one home. She also told me to be sure to soak it in a bucket of water for a few days before I planted it. The rose I took was Fragrant Cloud.

By the time I got it home it was pretty dry and seemingly lifeless. But I did as Nellie had instructed, and soaked the plant for a few days. After planting, the rose was a little slow to start, but soon buds sprouted and it began to grow. With regular care, my Fragrant Cloud completely recovered from its stressful beginning to produce a lush, dark green shrub.

In about two months my Fragrant Cloud burst into bloom. Keep in mind that I had not selected this rose out of the J&P catalog; I had no idea what the blooms would look like. Returning from work one hot July afternoon, the most surreal color caught my eye: it was the glowing coral red of my one and only rose bush, Fragrant Cloud. It was an intense fireball of color, and the fragrance was delightfully overwhelming.

Years later I graduated with a degree in horticulture, and was hired as head gardener for the Jackson & Perkins Test and Display Gardens. As my career has progressed with J&P, I have never regretted my decision to pursue horticulture as my profession. I am still as delighted and fascinated with the marvels of growing plants as I was that day I brought my first rose home. Fragrant Cloud was my inspiration, and will always be my favorite.