Chrysler Imperial Hybrid Tea Rose

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

6 to 8

Chrysler Imperial Hybrid Tea Rose has been an award winner since its first introduction in 1952. For over 70 years, this velvety-red rose has remained a top performer in the home garden. The flowers are held on straight, sturdy stems that make for perfect long-stem roses. While many Hybrid Teas have been bred without fragrance, Chrysler Imperial has the robust and spicy smell that everyone desires in a rose. Plant this shrub where the heavy perfume can be enjoyed throughout the summer.

Chrysler Imperial Rose is a lower-maintenance plant than most gardeners would guess. The only pruning required is in the fall. Cutting flowers regularly for bouquets helps keep this rose tidy while encouraging more blooms. Tea roses are often the centerpiece of a dedicated rose garden, but that is not the only way these shrubs can be grown. Add this rose to the middle of a sunny cottage garden bed or alongside other informal shrubs as a mixed hedge. Roses grow well with other plants as long as they share the same cultural needs.

Chrysler Imperial Hybrid Tea Rose Care

Hybrid Tea Roses prefer rich soil that is well draining as well as lots of full sun. Garden soil high in clay may hold too much water near the roots, resulting in root rot. Amend the soil with organic compost before planting Chrysler Imperial, and make sure to mulch the root zone well after planting. Choose an organic mulch such as arborist chips, finely shredded leaves, or compost. Fertilize roses once in the spring with a granular, slow-release formula made for roses or tomatoes. The ratio of NPK should be around 1-4-2 with a higher Phosphorous content to support heavy blooming. Water new plants in well and repeat watering weekly with 1 inch of water. Roses should be watered with soaker hoses or drip irrigation to prevent water from getting on the foliage.

Fall pruning is best for Hybrid Tea Roses. Cut out any dead, diseased, or dying stems to the trunk one month before your average first frost date. The height can also be reduced by up to one-half to control the overall size. Prune out any suckers from the base of the shrub. Hybrid Tea Roses are grafted onto different rootstocks and sometimes send up suckers. The suckers are easy to see and will look very different from the top growth. Snip out these stems from under the soil, so they do not continue growing. When cutting flowers for arranging, always cut back to the next set of leaves. This prevents bare stems from showing and keeps the plant compact.

Chrysler Imperial Hybrid Tea Rose Spacing

Hybrid Tea Roses are pretty uniform in height and spread. Chrysler Imperial has a mature size of 4 feet high and 3 feet wide. Place multiple roses about 30 inches apart center on center to keep good air circulation around each plant.