The name should be corrected to " Mrs Heggie's Red Tea" - the study name originally given by myself as property owner in discussion with Pat Toolan. Mrs Marie Heggie was the original owner of the property ' Almerta' in South Australia from 1887. The homestead was built in 1901. " Mrs Heggie's Red Tea" was one of a number of roses bordering a vineyard in front of the house. Fortunes Double Yellow, Maman Cochet, Cecile Brunner and Fortuniana still exist alongside the mother plant of " Mrs Heggie's Red Tea".
We can't delete the Almerta name altogether as there have been three published references to it in the past, but I have made it a hidden synonym and added the name of "Mrs. Heggie's Red Tea". It is good to read of the age of your property. Thank you Jen.
It's in commerce in Aus as Papillon (which it isn't - most likely Beaute Inconstante). Mine grew huge, about 5m wide x 3m high, at which stage I pulled it out to retrieve some paths. Aphids aren't interested in it. the colour varies a lot during the season, and blooms tucked within the bush can be very pale.
Mistydowns is a bit of a worry. Not only is their website incredibly slow to load, but the page for Tea roses states that they were originally produced by crossing China roses with Rosa gigantea!
Beats me where they got that daft idea. It sounds like they have somehow got Teas mixed up with Clark's roses, or something.
My seven-year-old plant, essentially unpruned, is about 5m x 5m wide and 3m tall, well-clothed to ground level. It appears unpalatable to the sort of aphids we get in South Australia. At times some of the petals turn an ugly black within the flower. Not sure why. Otherwise it is healthy. The flower colour is very variable with the season and with sun exposure. In Australia it is sold incorrectly as 'Papillon'; see comment in Description re 'Beaute Inconstante'.
