Corrida

Where to plant. A large velvet-red Hybrid Tea for formal spots in the garden – an upright, dense bush 80–90 cm tall; it needs no support. The juicy vermilion looks striking against silver foliage (lamb's ears, lamb's ears) and cool lavender-blue flower spikes of catmint (Nepeta) and salvia. Excellent for cutting too – the flowers last a long time in a vase.

Climate. There is no specific data on the cultivar's winter hardiness. For Hybrid Teas in Ukraine winter protection is usually recommended – it is sensible to apply it here too until our own experience accumulates.

Care. The main advantage is excellent disease resistance (+++), so there is minimal need for spraying. Repeat-flowering: from May to the frosts.

Name. 'Corrida' – the Spanish corrida, a bullfight. The name echoes the ‘bull’-like velvet-red colour of the flower – the saturated tone of the arena and the matador’s cape. There is no official explanation of the name; this is our own reading of the image.

Breeding. Originator Bernard Sauvageot (France), variety code Sautrared; distributed by NIRP International. The year of introduction differs between sources – HelpMeFind gives 1995, while the series of European awards is dated 2005–2006, so we say cautiously: the end of the twentieth century or the start of the twenty-first. Awards: the variety was honoured at a series of European competitions in 2005–2006: Bagatelle (children's favourite prize), a silver medal in Geneva, Hradec Králové (the most beautiful large-flowered rose) and Le Roeulx (the most beautiful rose of 2005). Do not confuse: there is a second rose named 'Corrida' – bred by Delbard in 1969, bicoloured, with a yellow reverse to the petals. That is a different variety. Our Corrida (Sautrared, Sauvageot) is solid red, with no yellow.