Tea Rose
Rosa odorata
Family: Rosaceae · Also called China Tea Rose, Rosa × odorata, Rosa indica odorata
Floral · Spring–Summer bloomer
The tea rose is the ancestor of the modern florist rose, the Chinese roses that transformed European gardens when they arrived in the 1800s. Unlike European roses that bloomed once, tea roses flowered repeatedly through the season. Their scent is distinctive: lighter and more nuanced than Damask roses, with notes that early growers compared to a chest of fine Chinese tea.
grace, remembrance, always lovely
In the Victorian language of flowers, tea rose means “I'll remember always”. Tea roses arrived in Europe from China in the early 1800s, bringing a revolutionary repeat-blooming trait and a distinctive scent reminiscent of fresh tea leaves. They became the foundation of modern hybrid tea roses, the roses sold in every florist today carry tea rose genetics. The name comes from their scent, which early importers compared to a freshly opened chest of Chinese tea.
Did You Know?
Nearly every modern rose you've ever bought from a florist carries tea rose DNA. The 'tea' scent comes from a compound called beta-damascenone, also found in tea leaves, wine, and aged tobacco. Original tea roses are tender and rarely grown today, but their genetic legacy dominates the rose world.
Gardens and hillsides of southern China and Myanmar
Tea Rose is native to China. It naturally grows in gardens and hillsides of southern china and myanmar.
Scent Profile
“A refined, tea-like fragrance with violet and fresh fruit notes, more delicate and nuanced than the Damask rose, with an almost wine-like complexity.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameRosa odorata
- FamilyRosaceae
- Native ToChina
- Bloom SeasonSpring–Summer
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Tea roses arrived in Europe from China in the early 1800s, bringing a revolutionary repeat-blooming trait and a distinctive scent reminiscent of fresh tea leaves. They became the foundation of modern hybrid tea roses, the roses sold in every florist today carry tea rose genetics. The name comes from their scent, which early importers compared to a freshly opened chest of Chinese tea.