Photo: © Style Roses (introducing nursery)

Hybrid TeaNola Simpson, 2002Apricot and orange

Copper Lights

A rich copper-orange tone; dark reddish-purple glossy foliage; grows well in a cool, moist climate.

Deep purple glossy foliage as the bush's main ornament

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeating in flushes all season, from early summer to autumn. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Legacy

New Zealand

From the nursery of Nola Simpson, creator of New Zealand's first 'brown' rose, Hot Chocolate

Winter hardiness

−15 °C

South of Ukraine; in the north – with winter protection. South of Ukraine · in the north — with cover.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

100–120 × 50–75 cm

Habit: Upright, vertical
Dimensions: 100–120 cm tall × 50–75 cm wide
Support: Not needed – a self-supporting bush
Shoots: Sturdy
Branching: Good

Flower

7–10 cm

Bud shape: Pointed, high-centred
Open flower: Double, classic Hybrid Tea form; diameter ~7–10 cm
Centre: High
Fullness: Double, ~26–39 petals
Flower carriage: Mostly singly, sometimes in small clusters; good for cutting

Fragrance

Light; soft rose

Disease resistance

4 out of 5

Generally healthy; preventive treatment against black spot and powdery mildew is advisable.

Sun

Full sun

Copes well with a cool and moist climate.

Thorns

Few

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Few prickles on the stems.

Foliage

Dense, glossy, dark reddish-purple – makes the bush decorative in its own right.

Other names

Breeder's code SIMligh.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Hybrid Tea
Breeder: Nola Simpson, New Zealand, 2002
Bud shape: Pointed, high-centred
Open flower: Double, classic Hybrid Tea form; diameter ~7–10 cm
Centre: High
Colour: Copper-orange blend: darker copper-red outside, lighter coral-pink inside; a warm ‘copper’ tone
Fullness: Double, ~26–39 petals
Flower carriage: Mostly singly, sometimes in small clusters; good for cutting
Flowering: Repeating in flushes all season, from early summer to autumn
Fragrance: Light – soft rose
Hips: Usually not left – spent blooms are cut off
Habit: Upright, vertical
Branching: Good
Shoots: Sturdy
Thorns: Few prickles on the stems.
Dimensions: 100–120 cm tall × 50–75 cm wide
Support: Not needed – a self-supporting bush
Foliage: Dense, glossy, dark reddish-purple – makes the bush decorative in its own right
Resistance: Generally healthy; preventive treatment against black spot and powdery mildew is advisable
Variations of the variety: No separate sports recorded

Colour scheme

Copper-orange blend: darker copper-red outside, lighter coral-pink inside; a warm ‘copper’ tone

Rose neighbours

Just Joeyapricot-orange

Lady Emma Hamiltoncopper orange

Lady of Shalottapricot-orange

Munstead Wooddark raspberry · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Catmint (Nepeta)sky blue

Salvia 'Caradonna'purple

Perovskialavender haze

Heucherapurple foliage

Neighbouring roses

Copper, apricot and orange varieties keep the same warm 'bronze' mood around Copper Lights.

Just Joey Lady Emma Hamilton Lady of Shalott Munstead Wood

Companion perennials

Blue and purple flowers bring out the copper, and the purple foliage of heuchera echoes the bush's dark leaves:

catmint (Nepeta)salvia 'Caradonna'Perovskiaheuchera

Contrasting accents

Blue spires and purple foliage deepen the warm copper palette:

DelphiniumNepeta Six Hills GiantHeuchera Palace Purple

More about the variety

Hips: Usually not left – spent blooms are cut off
Variations of the variety: No separate sports recorded

How to grow

Where to plant. In a mixed border among blue-purple perennials, where the copper flowers and dark purple foliage give a striking contrast; good for cutting.

Climate. The south and centre of Ukraine – no protection needed; in the north – with winter protection. It copes particularly well with a cool and moist climate.

Care. Full sun, rich soil; feed twice per season; in damp weather – disease prevention.

About the name

Name. 'Copper Lights' – ‘copper light’: for the warm copper glow of the flowers. Bred by Nola M. Simpson (Simpson's Roses, Levin, New Zealand) before 2002. Patent code SIMligh. Parentage: 'Copper N' Bronze' × 'Spek's Centennial'. After 2011 her nephew John Ford continued the breeder's work; the variety was introduced in Britain by the nursery Style Roses.

Significance. The work of one of the most prolific New Zealand breeders, Nola Simpson – the author of the first New Zealand ‘brown’ rose, Hot Chocolate. Copper Lights is valued for the unusual combination of copper flowers and dark purple foliage.

Frequently asked questions about Copper Lights

Does Copper Lights need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −15 °C. Overwintering depends on the conditions. South of Ukraine; in the north – with winter protection.

How many times a season does Copper Lights flower?

Repeating in flushes all season, from early summer to autumn.

How big does Copper Lights grow?

100–120 cm tall, 50–75 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Copper Lights?

Overall resistance: 4 out of 5. 3–4 / 5; good – generally healthy; prevention against black spot and mildew.

How much sun does Copper Lights need?

Full sun; copes well with a cool and moist climate.

What does Copper Lights smell like?

Light – soft rose.