VIOLETTE PARFUM – mauve-purple hybrid tea rose - Tantau
Step out after rain and breathe in the fragrance of VIOLETTE PARFUM, a mauve‑purple hybrid tea rose bred for reliable performance in typical British family gardens. Its upright structure holds classic, high‑centred blooms ideal for cutting, while the very strong, sweet‑spicy scent lends everyday luxury to even the smallest London front garden. As an own‑root rose it offers long‑term resilience, quietly rebuilding from its base and supporting a long garden lifespan with little intervention. Well‑suited to changeable weather and heavier soils where good drainage helps cope with damp, breezy conditions, it settles in steadily: roots in year one, generous shoots in year two, and full ornamental value by year three for enduring elegance.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden feature rose |
Plant as a single, eye‑catching specimen by the front door or gate, where its upright habit and large, mauve‑purple blooms can be appreciated from the pavement. Strong scent greets you daily without demanding complex care, suiting the busy urban homeowner you. |
| Rainwater‑friendly clay border |
In small family gardens with heavier soils, VIOLETTE PARFUM thrives when planted in a slightly raised, well‑drained bed, making practical use of rainwater without fuss. Its own‑root toughness and disease resistance keep maintenance low even where weather swings between wet and windy you. |
| Compact scented cutting patch |
Use it in a modest cutting area for repeat flushes of florist‑style, high‑centred blooms. The strong, sweet‑spicy fragrance fills indoor arrangements, while remontant flowering ensures new stems all summer with routine deadheading rather than expert pruning, ideal for hobby gardeners you. |
| Balcony or roof terrace container |
In a 40–50 litre peat‑free container, its upright form and limited spread suit narrow spaces, particularly London terraces exposed to wind. Own‑root vigour helps long life in pots, and simple watering with collected rainwater keeps this an easy, sustainable choice for container gardeners you. |
| Small group in a narrow bed |
Planted in groups of three along a path or fence, VIOLETTE PARFUM creates a neat, structured line of colour without overwhelming a compact garden. Its modest width and regular repeat flowering provide a calm, balanced backdrop that still looks considered for time‑pressed beginners you. |
| Low‑intervention family border |
Combine this rose with low‑maintenance perennials to form a border that needs little more than annual tidying and deadheading. Own‑root durability and good disease resistance mean fewer sprays and replacements, supporting a longer‑lived, more sustainable planting scheme for eco‑aware families you. |
| Scented evening sitting area |
Place near a bench or small terrace where evening air concentrates its powerful perfume. Even a single plant can scent a corner, so you gain a sense of luxury from a modest footprint, well suited to compact, rainwater‑fed city spaces enjoyed after work by urban dwellers you. |
| Structured mixed planting with perennials |
Use its vertical, hybrid‑tea form as a focal point amidst softer plants such as nepeta or salvias, achieving structure without rigid formality. The steady repeat bloom gives consistent colour and shape, anchoring the display over several seasons for design‑minded yet busy gardeners you. |
Styling ideas
- Violet‑Border – Line a narrow front path with VIOLETTE PARFUM and low nepeta for a mauve haze and strong perfume – ideal for London terrace owners wanting impact from a slim bed.
- Cutting‑Corner – Group three plants in a sunny corner with thread‑leaf coreopsis for contrast, providing armfuls of scented stems – suited to hobby florists who love homegrown bouquets.
- Urban‑Pot – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre peat‑free pot with trailing sedum at the rim – perfect for balcony or roof‑terrace gardeners seeking long‑lived structure and fragrance.
- Calm‑Palette – Combine its mauve‑purple blooms with silver foliage and soft grasses for a serene, contemporary scheme – for design‑conscious homeowners aiming for a balanced, low‑fuss look.
- Family‑Seat – Position beside a simple bench among tough perennials, where scent and colour frame family evenings outdoors – aimed at busy families wanting atmosphere with minimal ongoing work.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose registered as TANfifum, marketed as VIOLETTE PARFUM and also known in exhibitions as ‘Blue Parfum’; part of the Hybrid Tea group for garden and cutting use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Mathias Tantau Jr. at Rosen Tantau, Uetersen, Germany; breeding completed 1977, introduced and registered 1978, with parentage not publicly documented but selected for colour and scent. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright hybrid tea with medium foliage density, light green leaves and moderate thorns; height around 85–115 cm, spread 50–70 cm, forming a tidy, vertical element suited to beds and larger containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, high‑centred blooms with 26–39 petals, borne mainly in clusters on strong stems; classic pointed buds and a good second flush, especially when deadheaded, make it suitable for cutting and display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Mauve‑purple to deep lilac flowers, RHS 78A outer and 75B inner; colour may lighten in strong sun to a silvery lavender with pale centres and edging, maintaining decorative appeal through the fading process. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, sweet‑spicy rose fragrance, noticeable from a distance and persistent in cut stems; ideal for scented gardens and arrangements where perfume is a primary design feature for the planting. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is minimal because double blooms and regular deadheading reduce fruiting; if present, hips are tiny, typically 0–6 mm in diameter and of negligible visual or wildlife significance in most gardens. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3), with moderate tolerance of heat and drought when not exposed to prolonged dryness. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well‑drained soil; ideal for beds, small groups, hedging accents, containers and scented gardens. Requires regular deadheading but otherwise low intervention, especially on own‑root plants. |
VIOLETTE PARFUM offers powerful fragrance, long‑season repeat blooms and upright structure on a durable own‑root plant, making it a thoughtful choice if you value lasting scent and colour with modest effort.
