Fragrant Cloud, close-up of the flower
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Hybrid TeaMathias Tantau Jr., 1963Pink

Fragrant Cloud

Parentage Prima Ballerina × Montezuma; the FIRST rose in the WFRS Hall of Fame (1981) — the benchmark of the fragrant HT XX century.

Variety profileGardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Intense flushes from spring to autumn with pauses; repeats well. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Awards

WFRS HoF 1981

FIRST in the Hall of Fame · Gamble Fragrance 1970 · RNRS Gold 1963 · ADR 1964

Winter hardiness

−26 °C

USDA zone 5–10. In Ukraine with winter protection in northern regions.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

90–150 × 60–120 cm
person 170 cm90–150 cm
Habit
Compact and upright — classic HT
Dimensions
90–150 cm tall × 60–120 cm wide
Support
Needs no support — a standard HT
Shoots
Strong, straight — they hold the large flowers well
Branching
Moderate

Flower

12–15 cm
Bud shape
Elongated, elegant, pointed, coral-orange — the classic HT bud
Open flower
Large full high-centred HT form; 12–15 cm across
Centre
Dense coral-red centre with a glowing effect
Fullness
Full, 26–40 petals
Flower carriage
Mainly large flowers borne singly on each stem

Fragrance

Strong

Very strong — one of the strongest scents among all HTs; notes: classic Damask + citrus + fruit + spice (clove). It is the benchmark HT fragrance against which breeders compare new fragrant varieties.

Disease resistance

3 out of 5

3/5 — typical of classic HTs; needs prevention of black spot and powdery mildew.

Sun

Full sun

The colour is richer in cool weather.

Thorns

Moderate
thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Medium number; straight.

Foliage

Dark green, large, leathery.

Other names

Duftwolke, Nuage Parfumé

Breeder's code TANellis.

All characteristics in a table
Group
Hybrid Tea
Breeder
Mathias Tantau Jr., 1963
Bud shape
Elongated, elegant, pointed, coral-orange — the classic HT bud
Open flower
Large full high-centred HT form; 12–15 cm across
Centre
Dense coral-red centre with a glowing effect
Colour
Coral red / salmon red-orange; with age it shifts to geranium red (more muted); the shades vary with the weather — richer in cool weather
Fullness
Full, 26–40 petals
Flower carriage
Mainly large flowers borne singly on each stem
Flowering
Intense flushes from spring to autumn with pauses; repeats well
Fragrance
Very strong — one of the strongest scents among all HTs; notes: classic Damask + citrus + fruit + spice (clove). It is the benchmark HT fragrance against which breeders compare new fragrant varieties
Hips
Rarely — mainly because of deadheading; not decorative
Habit
Compact and upright — classic HT
Branching
Moderate
Shoots
Strong, straight — they hold the large flowers well
Thorns
Medium number; straight.
Dimensions
90–150 cm tall × 60–120 cm wide
Support
Needs no support — a standard HT
Foliage
Dark green, large, leathery
Resistance
3/5 — typical of classic HTs; needs prevention of black spot and powdery mildew
Variations of the variety
Trade names: Duftwolke (Germany, original), Nuage Parfumé (France). Climbing-spot is a separate variety

Colour scheme

Coral red / salmon red-orange; with age it shifts to geranium red (more muted); the shades vary with the weather — richer in cool weather

Rose neighbours

Cherry Brandy 85copper orangeCoral Gemcoral-pinkDouble Delightcreamy red bicolourBlue Moonlavender-silver · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Catmint 'Six Hills Giant'sky blueSalvia 'Victoria Blue'purpleGaillardia 'Arizona Sun'golden yellowLady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis)lime green

Rose neighbours

A coral-orange palette for a showy, fragrant bed:

Cherry Brandy 85Coral GemDouble DelightBlue Moon

Perennial companions

Blue and silver — the classic partners for coral, plus tone-on-tone yellow:

catmint 'Six Hills Giant'Salvia 'Victoria Blue'gaillardia 'Arizona Sun'lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Availability worldwide

A classic of the twentieth century — in the catalogue of every major nursery:

  • 🇩🇪 Europe: Rosen Tantau · Burncoose · Ashridge · Pharmarosa
  • 🇺🇸 USA: Weeks · Heirloom · Grace · High Country · Rogue Valley
  • 🇯🇵 Asia: Japanese rose gardens — one of the most revered Western HTs
  • 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Tetiana's Garden · Lizgard (Kyiv) · Rose Kaleidoscope · WestGard

More about the variety

Hips
Rarely — mainly because of deadheading; not decorative
Variations of the variety
Trade names: Duftwolke (Germany, original), Nuage Parfumé (France). Climbing-spot is a separate variety

How to grow

Where to plant. Fragrant borders beside paths, windows and places to sit — given its benchmark scent, it is worth placing it where people often walk; also good for cutting.

Climate. To −26 °C — in Ukraine with winter protection in northern regions; in the south no cover is needed.

Care. As a classic HT it needs regular preventive sprays against black spot and powdery mildew; formative pruning in spring; removing spent flowers to encourage new flushes.

About the name

Name. 'Fragrant Cloud' — English for 'fragrant cloud'; 'Duftwolke' — the same meaning in German; 'Nuage Parfumé' — in French. All the names convey the variety's ability to create a real 'cloud' of scent around the garden.

Breeding. Bred by Mathias Tantau Jr. at Rosen Tantau (Uetersen, Germany), 1963; sold in the USA from 1967. Patent code TANellis. Parentage: 'Prima Ballerina' (Tantau 1957) × 'Montezuma' (Swim 1955) — effectively a concentrate of Tantau's 'perfume' line.

Significance. The FIRST rose in the WFRS 'World's Favourite Rose' Hall of Fame (1981) — the highest international award among all roses. The most famous fragrant HT XX century variety: it set the fragrance standard for post-war HTs and is still the benchmark against which breeders compare new fragrant work. Full list of awards: RNRS Gold Medal 1963; ADR 1964; RNRS President's International Trophy (PIT) 1964; Portland Gold Medal 1966; ARS James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Award 1970; WFRS Rose Hall of Fame 1981 (#1 on the list!); Best Palette (CRS Montreal) 1999, plus numerous Court of Honor awards in the 2000s.

Frequently asked questions about Fragrant Cloud

Does Fragrant Cloud need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −26 °C (USDA zone 5–10). Overwintering depends on the conditions. In Ukraine with winter protection in northern regions.

How many times a season does Fragrant Cloud flower?

Intense flushes from spring to autumn with pauses; repeats well.

How big does Fragrant Cloud grow?

90–150 cm tall, 60–120 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Fragrant Cloud?

Overall resistance: 3 out of 5. Typical of the classic Hybrid Teas of the 1960s; needs black spot prevention.

How much sun does Fragrant Cloud need?

Sun; full sun; the colour is richer in cool weather.

What does Fragrant Cloud smell like?

Very strong — one of the strongest scents among all HTs; notes: classic Damask + citrus + fruit + spice (clove). It is the benchmark HT fragrance against which breeders compare new fragrant varieties.

Gardeners' photos and reviews

My climate

Choose a reference temperature to compare with the cultivar’s data. This is not an overwintering forecast or advice on winter protection; consider wind, moisture and the duration of frost.

Regional data are generalised. USDA describes average annual extreme minima, not a forecast; the values in the list are rounded. Check the conditions at your site. More information: Roses in Ukraine's climate.