Olympiad™ Hybrid Tea Rose

Every rose garden needs one standout red hybrid tea, and for three decades now, discerning American gardeners have relied on Olympiad™ to fulfill this function. An Australian rose developed for the 1984 Olympics by premier breeder Sam McGredy, Olympiad™ is that rare variety that is both a reliable mainstay and a showstopping spectacle.

The color of these large, very full 4- to 5-inch blooms is fire-engine, stoplight, London-bus red, the brightest of the bright! Packed with about 35 petals, these double blooms release a subtle tea scent that is best enjoyed in a large indoor arrangement. They typically arise singly on long, straight, very strong stems, but occasionally a cluster of blooms will appear, ready-made for the vase or for a charming posy to share with someone special.

The blooms arise in waves all summer long, banked by fresh, healthy dark-green foliage. McGredy is noted for breeding mildew-resistant roses, and Olympiad™ is a fine example. Although the largest bloom size is achieved in somewhat cooler temperatures, there is no doubt that this super-tough cultivar can withstand summer rainstorms and humid climates without dropping a petal. Expect it to reach 4 to 5 feet high, with excellent branching.

Olympiad™ arrived on the scene in 1982, descended from 'Red Planet' x 'Pharaoh.' Its popularity has grown with each passing year, and all of us here at Jackson & Perkins now consider it an indispensable hybrid tea for the cutting garden as well as a handsome three-season presence in the border. We predict that you will find it low maintenance, vigorous, and very rewarding, beginning the very first season in your garden!