Rosa 'Oklahoma' (Rose)

Oklahoma is one of the great dark roses, a hybrid tea introduced in 1964 that earned its reputation through sheer sensory impact. The blooms open a rich, velvety crimson-black red, so deeply saturated that the petals seem to absorb light rather than reflect it. Each fully double flower is large and high-centered in the classic hybrid tea form, and the fragrance is exceptional: intensely sweet and damask-spiced, the kind of perfume that carries across a garden on a warm afternoon. It was an All-America Rose Selections winner the year of its introduction.

Oklahoma grows as a vigorous, upright bush reaching roughly five to six feet, with strong canes and glossy, dark green foliage that sets off the dark flowers beautifully. It blooms in flushes from late spring through fall, with the richest color developing in the cooler temperatures of early summer and autumn. Like many deeply colored hybrid teas, it benefits from a little extra attention to air circulation to minimize disease pressure. Regular deadheading encourages the next round of bloom and keeps the plant looking its best.

On the Oregon coast, Oklahoma thrives in the mild, humid climate that roses adore.