Tea roses are among the most beloved members of the rose family. These have long been a favorite among floral designers. Now there’s a delightful book on this subject. Rosenberg Publishing has released “Tea Roses-Old Roses for Warm Climates” by Lynne Chapman et al.

This book is based on the authors’ personal experiences growing the plants. The six authors are known as the Tea Rose group. They are long-term members of the Perth Region of Heritage Roses in Australia.

Though the book focuses on tea roses that are grown in Australia, many of these varieties are also available elsewhere as well. This provides a thorough background on the definition of a tea rose. It gives an in-depth history of their origins. Readers will learn everything they need to know on choosing and growing these plants. The authors also explain how roses get their names.

Gardeners will also find this has a list of tea rose varieties that don’t do well in Australia. This list of ones not to grow will be invaluable to those gardening in warm climates.

The appendix has lots of helpful lists and additional information. One
gives the names of Australian-bred tea roses up to 1940. Another handy chart presents all the tea roses grown in Australia between 1840 and 2007.

Most of the book is devoted to the A to Z directory of profiles for the individual tea rose varieties. The encyclopedia will be very helpful to floral designers and those with rose gardens. It has an in-depth account for each recommended variety. There are historical plates as well as lush color photos of the flowers. The profiles focus on the individual characteristics of each flower and plant along with an account of its history and introduction.

Particular attention is devoted to the flower colors for these can be fleeting. The appendix has color charts illustrating the color names that the authors use in describing the flowers.

This book also covers roses that are related to the tea roses, such as tea rose hybrids. It even discusses some varieties whose origins aren’t clear. There is a helpful glossary of rose terms.