SUSAN MASSU® – yellow-pink hybrid tea rose – KORad
With its upright habit, luminous yellow-and-pink blooms and refined, high-centred flower form, SUSAN MASSU® is an elegant hybrid tea that fits perfectly into Irish family gardens. Bred by Kordes, it offers medium maintenance with good disease tolerance, coping reliably even in humid Atlantic gardens where summer rain and fungal pressure are common. The long, strong stems and solitary, exhibition-style flowers make it ideal if You like to cut a few stems for the house without stripping the garden bare. As an own-root plant, it builds a stable shrub over time, regenerating well so You can enjoy a long-lived specimen without worrying about graft failure. Place it in a sunny border or near a front path where its medium-strength perfume and glowing colour can be appreciated up close. In the first year it focuses on roots, in the second it extends its shoots, and by the third year it shows its full ornamental value, giving You confidence that the rose will settle in and reward patient, simple care for many seasons.
Use cases
| Target area | Reason |
|---|
| Sunny front garden focal point |
The tall, upright habit and solitary, exhibition-type blooms create a clear vertical accent beside an entrance, gate or drive. Over the first three seasons it matures from a young plant into a fully developed feature that anchors a modest-sized front garden for years, ideal for beginners |
| Cutting corner in a family garden |
Long, straight stems with large, high-centred flowers make this variety excellent for cutting, while its remontant habit means the plant continues to flower outdoors. You can harvest scented stems for the house without complex pruning regimes, suiting busy |
| Mixed border with perennials |
Dense, dark green foliage forms a strong backdrop for the yellow and salmon-pink blooms, combining well with compact sages, dwarf oregano or violas. Its medium maintenance fits into borders where You want structure and colour without intensive routines, perfect for hobbyists |
| Specimen rose near seating or terrace |
The medium-strength, pleasantly sweet fragrance is best enjoyed at close quarters, making it ideal by a bench, terrace or patio door. A single bush in a favoured spot offers repeat waves of scented flowers across summer, rewarding relaxed garden time for homeowners |
| Classic rose bed with hybrid teas |
Recommended spacings allow neat lines or small groups that give a traditional rose garden look without overcrowding. Its medium disease resistance supports reliable performance where good air movement and simple seasonal care keep the display strong, reassuring for learners |
| Sunny coastal or exposed site |
This upright hybrid tea tolerates cool, breezy, Atlantic-influenced gardens where summers can be wet and fungal pressure higher than inland. With reasonable site preparation and drainage, it establishes steadily as a long-term planting, confidence-building for coastal |
| Large container on patio or balcony |
Grown in a minimum 40–50 litre container with regular watering, the bushy structure and repeat flowering bring height and colour to paved spaces. Own-root growth means the plant knits the compost thoroughly, supporting long life in a single pot with modest upkeep for urbanites |
| Small group planting in cottage-style beds |
Planted in groups of three to five, the harmonious yellow and pink tones read as soft, romantic clumps among herbs and cottage perennials. The repeat flowering keeps these pockets lively through the season without the need for complex combinations, appealing to romantics |
Decorating ideas
- Front-door welcome – Plant one SUSAN MASSU® by your gate or front step, underplanted with horned violas, for an upright, scented greeting that stays tidy – ideal for homeowners who want simple kerb appeal.
- Cut-flower corner – Dedicate a sunny border end to 3 bushes spaced for easy access so You can pick long-stemmed, exhibition-type blooms for vases – suited to busy families who enjoy bringing the garden indoors.
- Cottage mix – Weave SUSAN MASSU® among compact sage and dwarf oregano to echo rural cottage borders with soft yellow-pink roses rising above herbs – perfect for fans of informal, romantic planting.
- Patio statement pot – Grow a single plant in a 40–50 litre container with trailing violas around the rim, creating a vertical accent for balconies or paved terraces – good for urban gardeners with limited soil.
- Seating-area showcase – Place a specimen near a favourite bench where its sweet fragrance and glowing blooms can be enjoyed on summer evenings – great for garden owners who like low-effort relaxation spots.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose SUSAN MASSU® (KORad), ARS exhibition name Susan Massu. Commercial type and group: hybrid tea rose. Part of the Hybrid tea rose collection for garden and cut-flower use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes, W. Kordes' Söhne, Germany. Parentage: ‘Colour Wonder’ × ‘Liberty Bell’. Introduced and registered in 1970, reflecting classic hybrid tea breeding of the period. |
| Growth and structure |
Upright, bushy hybrid tea reaching about 130–170 cm high with a spread of 75–105 cm. Dense, dark green, glossy foliage and moderate prickliness. Forms a well-structured garden shrub under regular deadheading. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, high-centred, pointed buds in classic cut-rose style. Large flowers (roughly 2.75–3.95 inches) are carried mainly singly on long stems, ideal for exhibition-type use and home cutting from the garden. |
| Colour and phenology |
Vivid sun-yellow base with salmon-pink edging, softer cream-yellow and pale pink in earlier stages. Colour may lighten in strong sun but remains harmonious. Remontant, with a generous second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, pleasantly sweet scent noticeable both in the garden and in the vase. Fragrance character suits scented gardens and seating areas where flowers can be enjoyed at close quarters during peak blooming. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally low due to very double flowers. Where pollination occurs, produces occasional small, ovoid, orange-red hips around 10–14 mm, offering modest late-season ornamental interest. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to around –21 to –18 °C (H7, USDA 6b; Swedish Zone 3). Medium overall disease resistance, with good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot, and moderate tolerance to rust. Requires watering in extended drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in a sunny position with well-drained soil. Recommended for borders, specimen planting, scented gardens and for cutting. Medium maintenance: benefits from deadheading, feeding and occasional pest and disease checks. |
SUSAN MASSU® offers tall, elegant blooms for cutting, sweet fragrance near seating areas and a durable own-root shrub that settles in for long-term garden use, so You can choose it with confidence for your family garden.
