Petal Pals
hybrid tea · 1973
Admiral Rodney
Rosa 'Admiral Rodney'
60-120 cm
Height
Continuous
Blooming
Full sun
Light
6–9
Zone
Plant & Flower Traits
Rose type
hybrid tea
Bloom size
Large (4-6 inches)
Bloom habit
Large-flowered high-centered blooms, usually solitary or in small clusters, produced on sturdy stems.
Petal count
45
Flowering
continuous
Habit
bushy
Color
purple
Fragrance
strong
Foliage
Dark green
Foliage surface
Glossy
Fragrance Notes
Classical rose perfume, often described as intense and similar in quality to 'Fragrant Cloud'.
Color Description
Pale to light rose-pink blooms with a significantly deeper pink or lavender-mauve reverse. The buds start off darker and open into high-centered, classical exhibition forms.
🌱 Growth & Garden Habits
Light
Full sun
Height
60-120 cm
Spread
60 cm
Soil
Prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soil. Tolerates a range of soil types (chalky, clay, loamy, sandy) with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 6–9
Disease Resistance
Slight to average
🌿 Care Guide
Watering
Water deeply and regularly, ensuring the soil remains moist but well-drained. Avoid overhead watering to minimize foliage diseases.
Fertilizer
Broadcast a balanced rose fertilizer in early spring. As a heavy feeder, it benefits from regular supplemental feeding of macro and micro-nutrients throughout the growing season.
Pruning
In early spring, remove old, dead, or diseased wood. For exhibition blooms, lightly prune in the first year to 40-50 cm, and in subsequent years, hard prune new growth back to two buds while removing twiggy lateral stems.
Pests & Diseases
Susceptible to blackspot (particularly in late summer), powdery mildew, and rust.
🧬 Pedigree
Unknown
🏆 Awards & Recognition
Winner of Star Class awards in UK national shows; Star of the Show Medals; Bloom of Merit Rosettes; King of Show (Olympia Rose Society, 1999).