OKLAHOMA™ – dark red hybrid tea rose
Velvety petals, fragrance that fills the garden, and a quietly impressive, upright presence make OKLAHOMA™ a distinguished choice for smaller British gardens. This hybrid tea offers large, high-centred blooms on long, elegant stems, giving you classic cutting-rose stems from your own front garden. The bush forms a well-branched, dense structure over time, settling into a reliable, long-lived feature as its own-root system matures and supports steady performance. With sensible care and tidy pruning once a year, it maintains its shape without complicated regimes, coping well even in sites that feel the full force of brisk coastal winds and driving rain. Planted in good soil with drainage and regular feeding, it rewards you with generous repeat flowering and a strong second flush, the ornamental value building naturally as roots strengthen, shoots extend, and by the third season you see its full garden impact. Whether used as a focal point, in a short run of matching bushes, or near a path where you pass daily, its deep colour and intense perfume give everyday moments a touch of evening-garden drama and classic rose elegance.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose by the front door |
The large, high-centred blooms and strong scent create an immediate sense of arrival when placed near a front entrance, yet the bushy, upright habit stays compact enough for a modest path-side space in a typical suburban setting, ideal for scent-loving homeowners. |
| Small mixed border in a family garden |
Its dense, upright framework and dark green foliage slot neatly into mixed borders, giving vertical structure without overwhelming nearby perennials; a single bush or pair provides a reliable focal point that anchors looser cottage-style planting for busy family gardeners. |
| Cutting corner for home-cut flowers |
The long, straight stems with solitary, exhibition-type blooms suit cutting beautifully, so just a few plants in a sunny corner can supply richly coloured, classic roses for the house throughout the season, rewarding those who appreciate home-grown arrangements. |
| Evening terrace or seating area |
The very strong, garden-filling fragrance intensifies in the evening, so planting close to a terrace, bench, or patio brings scent to summer suppers and quiet moments without the need for elaborate planting schemes, pleasing fragrance-focused beginners. |
| Statement planting in a narrow front bed |
The dark, velvety blooms read clearly against brick, render, or gravel in slim beds along house walls or drives; its upright habit and recommended wider spacing avoid crowding, helping maintain a tidy, manageable frontage for time-pressed urban dwellers. |
| Small group planting as a focal block |
Planting three to five bushes with the suggested wider distance between them creates a unified block of colour that reads as one feature, while the own-root form supports long-term stability and regeneration, suiting homeowners seeking lasting structure. |
| Large container on a patio (40–50 litres+) |
In a substantial container of at least 40–50 litres with good drainage, its upright habit and repeat flowering provide a moveable focal point; regular watering and feeding are straightforward tasks, making it manageable for balcony and courtyard gardeners. |
| Exposed spots in wind-prone gardens |
The bushy, moderately thorny framework and balanced height-to-spread ratio help it stand firm and retain its display even where gardens are regularly swept by strong, rain-laden winds off the coast, giving extra reassurance to weather-conscious gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Classic-porch welcome – Combine OKLAHOMA™ with box balls and low lavender for a simple, traditional front-door vignette with rich colour and scent – ideal for owners of classic brick terraces.
- Cottage-contrast border – Set its dark blooms against soft pink campanulas, white achillea, and airy grasses to create a romantic yet structured cottage-style mix – appealing to cottage-garden enthusiasts.
- Evening-scent corner – Pair near a bench with night-scented stocks and nicotiana so fragrance builds at dusk around a seating nook – perfect for those who relax outdoors after work.
- Formal-duo framing – Plant two roses symmetrically either side of a path or steps, backed by clipped evergreen shapes, to give a restrained, formal entrance – suited to fans of orderly, low-maintenance layouts.
- Bold-colour trio – Group three plants with coral bells and feather reed grass for strong foliage contrast and season-long texture – attractive to design-aware gardeners who like contemporary twists.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose registered as ‘Oklahoma’, marketed as OKLAHOMA™; American Rose Society approved exhibition name Oklahoma; classified within the hybrid tea commercial group. |
| 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 in 1964. |
| Awards and recognition |
Tokyo Gold Medal at the Japan Rose Concours in 1963, reflecting its strong ornamental value and performance under international trial conditions soon after introduction. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous, upright, bushy habit to around 130–170 cm high and 100–140 cm wide, with dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage and a moderately thorny framework that supports large blooms well. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, high-centred flowers with 40+ petals, borne mostly singly on long, straight stems; large bloom size around 2.75–3.95 inches, classic exhibition hybrid tea form ideal for cutting and display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety burgundy red with black undertones; buds nearly black-red, opening to intense dark blooms that gradually fade toward brownish red yet remain dark overall, flowering in remontant flushes with a strong second wave. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, classic sweet rose scent considered garden-filling in still conditions; fragrance is a key feature both outdoors and in the vase, enhancing its value as a cutting and display rose. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally sets small, ellipsoid red hips about 12–18 mm in diameter, adding a modest late-season detail without being a primary ornamental feature of the cultivar. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to approximately −21 to −18 °C (H7, USDA 6b), with moderate resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; benefits from routine preventive care and balanced nutrition in humid seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best with full sun, regular feeding and deadheading; medium maintenance with some disease monitoring; plant 100–175 cm apart depending on use to allow for good air movement and full development. |
OKLAHOMA™ rewards you with velvety dark blooms, powerful fragrance and a stable, long-lived bush from its own-root form; a thoughtful choice if you would like a quietly striking, enduring rose.
