TSUKIYOMI – crimson-pink hybrid tea rose – Kunieda
Moonlit evenings and classic hybrid tea elegance come together in TSUKIYOMI, a crimson-pink rose shaped for today’s family garden. Its large, cup-shaped blooms carry a strong, sweet-spicy fragrance, ideal where you want one or two shrubs to make a real statement beside a front path or patio. The moderately compact, spreading habit helps it fill small borders without looking stiff, while own-root vigour supports long-term resilience and steady regrowth if you ever need to prune harder. In typical British conditions it copes well once established, even in spots where wind-driven rain tests garden shrubs. Over the first few seasons it settles in gradually – first putting energy into roots, then building shoots, and by the third year offering full ornamental impact with abundant repeat flowering that rewards consistent but uncomplicated care.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden focal point by the entrance path |
Use TSUKIYOMI as a single specimen near your front gate or along the main path, where its extra-large, classic hybrid tea flowers and strong perfume can be enjoyed at close quarters on everyday journeys. Best for the house-proud beginner. |
| Small rose bed with a tidy, formal feel |
Planted in a group of three at 65 cm spacings, the spreading habit knits together into a low, rounded block of colour, ideal for a modest rectangular bed that needs structure without complicated design work. Well suited to the tidy-border gardener. |
| Mixed cottage-style border with perennials |
The deep crimson-pink flowers with lilac overtones pair beautifully with soft blues and creams, echoing classic cottage borders without becoming old-fashioned, while own-root durability supports a long-lived planting scheme. A good match for the style-conscious traditionalist. |
| Cutting corner for home-arranged bouquets |
Extra-large, very full blooms on strong, medium-length stems make reliable cut flowers; repeat flushes through the season allow you to cut regularly while still leaving plenty of colour outside. Ideal for the home bouquet maker. |
| Patio feature in a large container (40–50 litres+) |
In a generous pot with good drainage and regular feeding, TSUKIYOMI’s spreading form and remontant flowering give months of interest, while own-root growth helps it anchor and recover well even where wind and rain can buffet containers. Perfect for the urban balcony owner. |
| Low, informal boundary or hedge |
Planted at about 55 cm centres, the moderately thorny, spreading bushes form a low, season-long floral line that softens paths or drive edges without needing precise clipping, just straightforward winter pruning and deadheading. Best for the practical planner. |
| Small family lawn edge or play-area backdrop |
Set behind a lawn, TSUKIYOMI offers height without becoming overbearing, giving a colourful, scented backdrop that copes with typical family use, while own-root structure offers reassuring longevity as the garden evolves. Ideal for the family-focused homeowner. |
| Compact rose-and-shrub composition with evergreens |
Combine with dwarf conifers or low evergreen mounds so the dark green foliage and rich flower colour stand out; the moderately dense canopy and steady repeat bloom help keep the arrangement balanced through the season. Ideal for the low-fuss designer. |
Styling ideas
- Moonlit entrance – flank a front gate with two TSUKIYOMI bushes and underplant with soft lavender for a scented welcome – suited to homeowners who want simple symmetry without high maintenance.
- Cottage ribbon – weave TSUKIYOMI through a border of campanulas and foxgloves to give vertical punctuation and rich colour – for those who like relaxed cottage style but need dependable structure.
- Patio theatre – grow one plant in a 50-litre terracotta tub with trailing thyme and white bacopa to spotlight the blooms – ideal for balcony and terrace gardeners seeking an easy focal point.
- Cutting corner – dedicate a sunny bed with TSUKIYOMI, cosmos and annual fillers to supply repeat flowers for vases – perfect for creative gardeners who enjoy arranging but prefer unfussy plants.
- Evergreen frame – back TSUKIYOMI with dwarf pines or compact hollies so winter structure remains when the rose is dormant – aimed at planners who want year-round form from a straightforward scheme.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
TSUKIYOMI hybrid tea rose, trade name used for a crimson-pink, very double hybrid tea garden and cut-flower cultivar; breeder Kunieda Keiji, commercial type hybrid tea rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Rose Farm Keiji in Japan, introduced in 2013; parentage is not recorded, but selection focused on large, very double flowers and strong fragrance for both garden and cutting use. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, creeping to spreading shrub, around 90–120 cm tall and 80–110 cm wide, with moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate prickliness on the shoots. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full, double, cup-shaped hybrid tea flowers with more than 40 petals, borne mainly solitary on stems; extra-large blooms approximately 9 cm or more under good growing conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Crimson-pink flowers with lilac overtones; buds deep and dark, opening vivid outside and paler within, colour gradually lightening as blooms age, with moderate colour retention across the flowering period. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, distinctive sweet-spicy perfume typical of richly scented hybrid teas; best appreciated near paths, seating or cutting gardens where still air allows the aroma to collect in the evening. |
| Hip characteristics |
Sparse to occasional spherical hips, typically 10–14 mm across, colouring orange-red; ornamental impact is modest and hips are usually secondary to the cultivar’s use as a repeat-flowering rose. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Winter hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA zone 5b); disease resistance is moderate, with powdery mildew, black spot and rust generally manageable under standard garden care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; medium maintenance, including seasonal feeding, pruning and some pest and disease control, plus deadheading because old blooms do not self-clean well. |
TSUKIYOMI hybrid tea rose offers large, scented crimson-pink blooms, reliable repeat flowering and long-lived own-root growth, making it a thoughtful choice if you would like a characterful yet manageable focal rose.
