Hybrid Teas have now been officially reclassified as ‘Large Flowered Bush Roses’ but I think that the term Hybrid Tea will remain in general use for most people. As mentioned in the introduction to Modern Roses- the first Hybrid Teas were the result of crossing the Tea Rose with mostly Hybrid Perpetuals-but other classes of roses were also used . Some of these early Hybrid teas are still available
commercially because they have strong constitutions and are reasonably disease free.

Gloire de Dijon
Breeder- Jacotot 1853
Parentage- ‘Souvenir de la Malmaison’ x unknown Tea. Usually classed as a Tea Rose but parentage reveals that it is indeed a Hybrid Tea.
This is a beautiful rose and is very much worth growing if you can obtain it from the right source. Reports say that Gloire de Dijon has ‘lost vigour’, but the original vigorous clone is still to be found - wish I knew where.

La France
Breeder- Guillot 1867
Parentage unknown
A sumptuous informal bloom with pale pink upper petals and deeper pink reverses. Again as with Gloire de Dijon there are two strains available.

Captain Christy*
Breeder- Lacharme 1873
Parentage- ‘Victor Verdier’ x ‘Safrano’
A very beautiful bloom-informal,many petalled,and a soft pale pink. He is a vigorous grower and repeats well.

Lady Mary Fitzwilliam
Breeder- Bennett 1882
Parentage- ‘Devoniensis’ x ‘Victor Verdier’
For many years the rose ‘Mrs Wakefield Christie Miller’ was sold as LMF and probably still is in most areas. The original was rediscovered only in 1975. From the older descriptions- my LMF is in fact MWCM. LMF is described as having large, soft pink, shaded deeper pink blooms
with high centres. She is the parent and ancestor of many Hybrid teas.

Mrs Wakefield Christie Miller
Breeder- McGredy 1909
Parentage- not given
Flesh pink petal tops with rose pink reverses. This is the description that fits my rose bought as LMF.

Mme Caroline Testout
Breeder- Pernet-Ducher 1890
Parentage-‘Mme de Tartas’ x ‘Lady Mary Fitzwilliam’ Large globose blooms of deep pink. A climbing version was released by Chauvry in 1901.