'Double Delight' Rose
'Double Delight' is two roses in one bloom - cream hearts that blush crimson wherever sunlight touches the petals, so every flower paints itself differently - plus a spicy fragrance strong enough to name it twice.
🗓️ Last reviewed: July 2026
Overview
'Double Delight' is two roses in one bloom - cream hearts that blush crimson wherever sunlight touches the petals, so every flower paints itself differently - plus a spicy fragrance strong enough to name it twice. The most distinctive hybrid tea ever sold. (Rosa 'Double Delight', hybrid tea.)
Origin & Natural Habitat
Swim & Ellis, USA 1977; AARS winner; World's Favourite Rose hall of fame 1985.
Appearance
Bushy HT ~1.2 m; 12 cm blooms open cream and develop strawberry-red edging as UV hits them - greenhouse blooms stay pale, sun blooms go dramatic; strong spicy-sweet scent.
Why People Grow It - Qualities & Benefits
- Sun-painted two-tone blooms, each unique
- Top-tier spicy fragrance
- Compact for an HT
- A guaranteed 'what rose is THAT?'
Care
Light: Full sun - 6+ hours; roses sulk, stretch and sicken in shade.
Water: Deep weekly soak at the base (more in heat); never overhead-sprinkle in the evening - wet leaves overnight breed blackspot.
Soil: Rich, well-drained loam, pH 6.0-6.8, generous compost at planting.
Temperature & Hardiness: Zones 5-9; the color show needs real sun (it IS sunlight, literally).
Feeding: Balanced rose feed in spring and after the first flush; stop by late summer so growth hardens before frost.
Pruning & Maintenance: Standard HT pruning; deadhead and the paintbox keeps working.
Planting & Propagation
Grafted, widely available.
Common Problems & Pests
- Mildew-prone in cool coastal climates - its known weakness
- Blackspot standard vigilance
- Indoor/shade blooms stay plain cream (that's the mechanism, not a flaw)
Toxicity & Safety
Roses are non-toxic to dogs and cats - the thorns are the only hazard.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unique living-watercolor blooms
- Powerful fragrance
- Compact HT habit
Cons
- Mildew in fog belts
- Needs sun for the magic
- Bi-color divides opinion
Best Suited For
- Fragrance gardens
- Show-and-tell borders
- Hot sunny climates
- Cutting (cut half-open, watch it color in the vase)
FAQ
Why are my blooms plain cream?
No UV - shade, overcast spells or indoor growing keep the red away. The crimson is a light-activated pigment; full sun paints it on.
Where does the name come from?
The 'double delight' of its two glories - the bicolor bloom and the knockout fragrance. It routinely tops 'most fragrant' polls.