Tea roses are hardy in Zones 7 - 10 and are some of the best roses for the hot humid South. They are generally 3 to 7 ft. tall and produce fragrant flowers on delicate stems. Sometimes the slender stems cause the flowers to 'nod' giving the bush a slight weeping effect. This is the case, for example, on the tea rose Le Pactole in the picture, which was taken in Lisa's garden during July. There are some tea roses that have stronger stems and hold their flowers upright - for example, Catherine Mermet, Tipsy Imperial Concubine, and Puerto Rico. Most tea roses have excellent resistance to disease and require very little or no spraying. Light pruning is all that is required, and in fact, tea roses rather resent heavy pruning. Zones 7/8-10 |