SEALED WITH A KISS™ – dark burgundy hybrid tea rose
Stepping past this rose on a damp London morning, you notice the velvety petals catching the light, their deep burgundy tone barely fading even after days of flowering. SEALED WITH A KISS™ is a classic hybrid tea shaped for both vases and front gardens, its strong, traditional fragrance drifting along the path like a love letter signed with a kiss. Bred for reliable health, its foliage stays neat and matt, giving you an easy-care structure that fits rainwater-conscious planting and copes calmly with cool, damp spells and persistent fungal pressure. As an own-root plant in the pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre pot, it settles in steadily, with Year 1 building roots, Year 2 boosting new shoots and Year 3 revealing its full, long-lived ornamental value in your family garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front garden focal rose |
Plant as a single specimen by your front door or gate, where the high-centred, burgundy blooms can be appreciated at eye level on their upright stems. Own-root growth builds a long-lived, reliable presence with minimal replacement over the years for the discerning homeowner. |
| Cut-flower and vase planting |
Designed as an exhibition-style hybrid tea, it produces large, solitary blooms on strong, straight stems ideal for cutting. Regular harvesting of flowers naturally tidies the plant, while own-root vigour ensures repeat stems season after season for the aspiring florist. |
| Low-maintenance family bed |
Good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust keeps maintenance light, even in busy family gardens where time is limited. With simple deadheading, it repeat flowers generously through the season for the time-pressed beginner. |
| Rain‑resilient city front garden |
The upright habit and moderately dense foliage help it stand up to regular rain and wind without sprawling, making it well suited to exposed urban sites using downpipe-diverted rainwater in typical British weather for the sustainability‑minded gardener. |
| Small-space feature with perennials |
Its compact 85–115 cm height and 60–80 cm spread fit narrow borders in terraced-house fronts, leaving room for lavender, sage or nepeta at its feet to soften edges and add movement for the style-conscious urbanite. |
| Own-root, long-term planting |
As an own-root rose, it recovers well from accidental damage or hard pruning, steadily thickening into a stable framework rather than exhausting a graft. This underpins a long planting life in permanent beds for the forward-planning planner. |
| Formal hybrid tea row or hedge |
Regular spacing at 50–60 cm creates a neat, upright row of uniform blooms. Repeat flowering and structural consistency give a classic, formal look along paths or drives with only light seasonal pruning for the order-loving designer. |
| Large container near seating |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot filled with peat-free compost and good drainage, its strong scent and deep colour draw attention on balconies or patios, provided watering is regular during warm spells for the balcony-based resident. |
Styling ideas
- Velvet-porch – Place a single plant beside a black-painted front door, underplanted with soft grey lavender for contrast – ideal for urban terrace owners wanting instant front-step theatre.
- Letterbox-row – Line a short path with a formal row and clip low box or dwarf sage in front – suited to homeowners who enjoy a structured, traditional hybrid tea look.
- Rain-garden – Combine with nepeta and ornamental grasses in a free-draining, rainwater-fed strip by the pavement – perfect for eco-conscious gardeners managing downpipe runoff beautifully.
- Evening-bouquet – Grow near a seating area with white gaura and pale clematis for after-work fragrance and easy cutting – for busy professionals wanting flowers for the vase without fuss.
- Burgundy-balcony – Plant one rose in a 50 litre container with peat-free compost and trailing thyme around the rim – great for flat dwellers seeking a single, glamorous statement rose.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as SIMwhat, marketed as Sealed with a Kiss™ Hybrid tea rose SIMwhat; own-root, container-grown in the pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre format for UK family gardens. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Nola M. Simpson for Egmont Roses, New Zealand; introduced to the UK by Style Roses in 2014; hybrid tea of unknown parentage selected for colour, form and garden performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright hybrid tea reaching about 85–115 cm high with 60–80 cm spread; moderately dense, matt dark green foliage; moderately thorny stems; large blooms may need deadheading as self-cleaning is limited. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, high-centred, fully double blooms with 26–30 petals, classic exhibition hybrid tea form; mainly solitary flowers on long stems; remontant habit with a generous second flush after the main summer display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety crimson-red to dark burgundy with blackish shading; ARS dr, RHS 60A outer, 60B inner; colour lightens only slightly in strong sun, with no major fading reported under normal UK garden conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Rich, classic rose fragrance of strong intensity, carrying well in still air; ideal for positioning near paths, porches or seating areas where the scent can be fully enjoyed in everyday garden use. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set generally low due to very double flowers; occasional spherical dark red hips (RHS 187A) of around 12–18 mm may develop, adding subtle autumn interest without significant self-seeding issues. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust under typical garden care; hardy approximately to –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b), suitable for most UK regions with standard mulching in colder areas. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers full sun with moist but well-drained soil; dislikes prolonged drought so benefits from regular watering in warm spells; space 50–90 cm depending on use, using peat-free compost and good drainage in large containers. |
SEALED WITH A KISS™ offers velvety dark blooms, strong classic fragrance and dependable health on a resilient own-root framework; a thoughtful choice if you want a long-lived, characterful rose.
