STAINLESS STEEL® – lavender hybrid tea rose – Carruth
Choose STAINLESS STEEL® if you dream of romantic afternoon teas under an arbour, with long, elegant buds opening into cool, silver-lilac blooms that feel both contemporary and timeless. This own-root plant is raised for reliability, quietly building a deep root system that supports steady flowering and a long, useful life in your garden. Its strong, fresh citrus-rose scent adds a luxurious note beside a terrace or path, while the upright, disciplined growth is easy to weave into a mixed border or cottage-style hedging. Disease resistance is reassuringly high, especially helpful in British summers with changeable showers and breezy spells near the coast, so routine care stays simple. In larger containers from 40–50 litres it becomes a striking focal point, ideal for smaller urban spaces where you still want proper cutting stems for the house. Over time, own-root plants mature steadily, with roots settling in the first year, then stronger top growth in the second, and by the third year offering full ornamental impact with minimal extra effort for busy home gardeners who still value a refined classic rose.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Feature rose by a seating area |
Strong, fresh citrus-rose fragrance and elegant hybrid tea blooms make this an ideal companion to a bench, pergola or patio where you sit and unwind, giving you scented flowers at nose height all summer – suited to the fragrance-loving cottage gardener audience |
| Cutting and vase use from the family garden |
High-centred, long-stemmed flowers are bred for cutting, so you can harvest exhibition-style blooms without spoiling the garden display, creating a steady supply of refined lavender roses for the table – ideal for home florists and family homes buyers |
| Romantic focal point in a mixed border |
The tall, upright habit and pastel silver-lilac colour stand out beautifully among perennials and kitchen-garden herbs, giving a storybook cottage feel without demanding complex pruning or staking – perfect for relaxed, traditional-style gardeners homeowners |
| Low-maintenance planting with good disease resistance |
Modern breeding delivers reliable resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, so routine spraying is rarely needed, even in humid, fungus-prone UK summers, keeping care limited to basic watering, feeding and deadheading – helpful for time-pressed garden starters |
| Wind-exposed or coastal-leaning gardens |
The robust, upright structure and dense foliage cope well with changeable weather, offering dependable flowering even in gardens that see frequent showers and steady onshore breezes over the season – reassuring for practical, site-aware garden owners |
| Long-lived, dependable specimen rose |
As an own-root plant, it regenerates well from the base, keeps its variety-true character and avoids graft-related failures, giving you a stable feature that can be renovated by harder pruning rather than replacing – attractive to value-conscious rose keepers |
| Large container or terrace planting |
Its vertical habit and refined flowers shine in a substantial 40–50 litre pot, where roots have the depth they need and maintenance is mainly regular watering, feeding and occasional pruning, ideal for small paved or urban gardens – convenient for balcony and patio users |
| Structured rose hedge or repeated border rhythm |
Clear planting distances and a consistent upright form allow you to create an orderly, repeatable line of lavender blooms, giving rhythm along paths or vegetable plots while staying easy to manage with straightforward annual pruning – suited to organised, design-minded garden planners |
Styling ideas
- TEA-ARBOR – Train STAINLESS STEEL® near a light metal arch, underplant with catmint and lavender, and place a small bistro set beneath for afternoon tea – aimed at romantic cottage-garden enthusiasts
- LAVENDER-LINE – Repeat plants at regular intervals along a path with box or low yew edging, using the silver-lilac blooms as vertical exclamation marks – for homeowners who like structured but traditional layouts
- PASTEL-PATCH – Combine with soft pink anemones and airy grasses in a mixed border to soften fences or sheds while keeping care simple – for busy families wanting easy charm
- PATIO-DRAMA – Grow one plant in a 50-litre clay pot by the back door, where tall stems can be cut for the house and fragrance enjoyed daily – ideal for small-plot or urban gardeners
- KITCHEN-EDGE – Use as a specimen near herbs and a kitchen garden, letting its upright shape anchor beds of sage, chives and salad leaves – for cooks who like flowers and produce side by side
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose; registered as WEKblusi, marketed as STAINLESS STEEL® hybrid tea rose WEKblusi, exhibition name Stainless Steel; part of the hybrid tea collection for garden and cutting use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tom Carruth (USA) from ‘Blue Nile’ × ‘Silverado’; bred 1991, registered 1993, introduced 1995 by Weeks Wholesale Rose Grower, Inc., combining lavender tone with modern performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy plant 150–190 cm tall, 100–140 cm wide, moderately thorny, with dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage; forms a vertical accent suited to borders, hedging and specimen roles. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, high-centred blooms with 26–39 petals on mainly solitary stems; classic pointed buds, strong remontant habit with particularly abundant second flush, ideal for cutting and display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cool lavender to silver-lilac flowers with metallic sheen; RHS 76C–76D, ARS code M; colour holds well, lightening slightly in heat, deeper and clearer in cooler weather; uniform in full bloom. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Distinct, strong perfume with fresh, citrusy top notes over classic rose; clearly perceptible outdoors, especially near seating or paths; primarily ornamental, with limited value for pollinator support. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose-hip formation generally sparse due to double flowers; occasional small ellipsoid hips 10–14 mm across, orange-red (RHS 40A), of incidental ornamental interest rather than a main feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, notably to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; hardy to about –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3), with moderate heat and drought tolerance needing watering. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well-drained soil; spacing 110–180 cm depending on use; low maintenance with regular watering, feeding and deadheading; suited to borders, hedging, specimen and cutting-garden roles. |
STAINLESS STEEL® offers tall, elegant lavender blooms, strong fragrance and modern disease resistance on a regenerating own-root plant, making it a thoughtful choice if you want a long-lived, easy-care feature rose.
