I was 12 years old in 1963 when 'Tropicana' first took the American garden by storm. There were very few orange Hybrid Tea Roses available in those days, and I can still recall the excitement caused by her exotically colored, deliciously fragrant blossoms.

'Tropicana' makes a tall bush covered with glossy, dark green foliage. All season long, long pointed orange-red buds appear, and open into medium to very large, 3 to 6-inch wide, fully double glowing orange blossoms, held on long cutting stems. As flowers age, they can turn a pale orange sherbet color. And 'Tropicana''s powerful raspberry-lime blossom fragrance is unique in the rose world.

Try 'Tropicana' in the garden with pale blue flowered perennials, or against a backdrop of trellised 'Clarke's Heavenly Blue' morning glories!