BLUE MONDAY® – lavender purple tea-hybrid rose – Tantau
If You dream of a rose that looks romantic yet behaves reliably, BLUE MONDAY® is made for easy-going Irish gardens. Its upright, compact habit keeps beds orderly and front gardens elegant without complicated pruning. The lavender-purple blooms, with their silvery sheen, bring a soft, cool-toned accent that works beautifully beside cottage favourites and contemporary planting alike. Medium, sweet-fruity fragrance adds a soothing note near paths or windows, while its proven disease resistance keeps upkeep refreshingly minimal. As an own-root rose it settles in gradually, forming a stable bush that copes well even where soil stays damp after rain and drainage needs a little care.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden feature by the entrance |
The upright hybrid tea form and neat, medium-sized blooms give Your entrance a composed look that stays tidy with simple deadheading, ideal when You want a graceful welcome without complex shaping or heavy seasonal work for beginners |
| Small flowerbed under a front window |
Its moderate height sits well below window sills, so You can enjoy lavender-purple flowers and their fruity fragrance at eye level; easy-to-reach planting simplifies light pruning and feeding, and the own-root structure supports a long-lived, stable display for homeowners |
| Compact mixed border with perennials |
The cool lavender colour combines smoothly with blues and whites, while the upright habit slots between perennials without swamping them; strong remontant flowering keeps colour coming back through summer, supporting a refined yet low-effort scheme for busy-gardeners |
| Decorative specimen near a seating area |
Its medium, sweet-fruity scent works perfectly beside a bench or terrace, offering fragrance without overwhelming small spaces; the high-centred blooms provide a classic look and, with modest care, the bush maintains an elegant outline for tea-rose-lovers |
| Cutting patch for home arrangements |
Hybrid tea, high-centred flowers on straight stems make reliable vase material, so one or two bushes can supply regular bunches through the season; repeat flowering ensures stems for the house without losing impact outdoors, rewarding DIY-arrangers |
| Coastal or windswept front garden strip |
Good general disease resistance and a sturdy, upright framework make it dependable where winds and frequent showers can be challenging; with sensible watering and feeding in year one, it establishes into a resilient shrub for coastal-gardeners |
| Small group planting of 3–5 bushes |
Planting in a tight group gives a dense drift of lavender-purple blooms and a smart, almost formal look, while own-root plants steadily knit into a unified, long-lasting clump over roughly three seasons, from first roots to full ornamental value, suiting planners |
| Large patio container on a sunny terrace |
In a 40–50 litre container with good drainage, it forms a vertical accent and flowers repeatedly; glossy dark leaves and refined blooms look polished beside outdoor seating, and regular watering is straightforward when the pot is close to the house, ideal for balcony-owners |
Decorating ideas
- Cottage-front charm – Combine BLUE MONDAY® with soft pink geraniums and white campanulas for a relaxed, romantic frontage that still feels orderly – for fans of traditional Irish cottage gardens
- Cool-toned ribbon – Line a low border with BLUE MONDAY® and interplant blue catmint and silver lamb’s ears to create a fresh, low-maintenance edge – for homeowners wanting a clean, modern look
- Evening seating corner – Place one rose near a bench with white hydrangeas and soft grasses so the lilac blooms and fragrance stand out at dusk – for people who unwind outdoors after work
- Cutting-and-display bed – Mix BLUE MONDAY® with white phlox and tall liatris to give straight, elegant stems for indoor vases while keeping structure in the border – for hobby florists at home
- Patio focus pot – Grow it in a large terracotta container with trailing thyme and low lavender to echo the flower colour and scent – for balcony and terrace gardeners with limited ground space
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as TANnacht, marketed as Blue Monday® – Hybrid tea rose – TANnacht; also exhibited under the name Blue Moon in ARS shows and competitions. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Mathias Tantau Jr. at Rosen Tantau, Uetersen, Germany; ‘Sterling Silver’ seedling × unknown seedling; introduced and registered in 1964, with NIRP International as initial distributor. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Holder of ADR recognition from 1964, reflecting garden performance and health in trial conditions, and awarded the National Rose Society Certificate of Merit in 1964 for exhibition quality blooms. |
| Growth and structure |
Upright hybrid tea bush, typically 85–115 cm high with a 75–105 cm spread; moderately dense, glossy dark green foliage; moderately thorny stems; forms a tidy, vertical accent in beds or containers. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized (about 1.5–2.75 in) double flowers with 26–39 petals; classic high-centred, pointed-bud form, usually solitary on stems; strongly remontant with an abundant second flush; weak self-cleaning, benefits from deadheading. |
| Colour and phenology |
Closed buds deep crimson-purple; opening to pure lavender blue with silvery outer petals; full bloom gentle lilac-blue with a silvery tone, edges fading slightly in strong sun; colour holds better in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, well-scented rose with a sweet, fruity character; noticeable near paths and seating areas without being overpowering; fragrance best appreciated in warm, still weather and when blooms are freshly opened. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Due to its double flowers, sets hips only occasionally; where present they are spherical, about 12–18 mm in diameter, orange-red in colour, and have limited ornamental impact compared with the repeated flowering. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, with resistance reported to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy around -21 to -18 °C (USDA 6b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 3) with moderate heat and short-term drought tolerance. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; space at 65 cm for mass planting, 55 cm for hedging, 100 cm as a specimen; recommended 2.5–2.9 plants/m² in blocks; regular watering in hot spells and simple deadheading improve performance. |
BLUE MONDAY® offers elegant lavender-purple blooms, reliable repeat flowering and a compact shape, while its own-root vigour supports long-term, low-fuss planting; consider it if You want a refined yet undemanding rose for your garden.
