NEW YORK – Lifestyle authority Martha Stewart has announced the arrival of a new namesake flower, the ‘Martha Stewart’ hybrid tea rose, planting 40 of the new variety at her renowned Bedford, New York, farm. The introduction of these Martha Stewart hybrid tea roses highlights the intersection of modern branding and traditional horticulture, a growing trend in the multibillion-dollar global floral industry.
The new cultivar, developed by the historic French rose breeding company Meilland, is being introduced to North America by Star Roses and Plants, a leading genetics company. This formal launch follows a period of development and collaboration, culminating in a rose that embodies Stewart’s well-documented aesthetic preferences for color, form, and fragrance.
The Significance of Hybrid Tea Roses
Hybrid tea roses represent the oldest class of modern garden roses, first developed in France during the mid-19th century. They are the result of crossing the vigorous, often clustered hybrid perpetual roses with the more delicate, single-flowered tea roses. The result was a new class of rose prized for its distinct characteristics.
Horticulturists and gardeners value hybrid teas for their large, shapely blooms, which typically feature a high-centered bud that unfurls with classic form. These flowers are usually borne on long, straight stems, making them a long-standing favorite for cut flower arrangements. The introduction of a new variety from a prominent breeder like Meilland—the same family that introduced the world-famous ‘Peace’ rose after World War II—is a notable event in the horticultural world.
A Garden of Namesakes: The Chosen Varieties
The ‘Martha Stewart’ rose itself is described as having large blooms with more than 100 petals, displaying a color that shifts between ballet pink and a warm apricot. According to Stewart’s announcement on her blog, the flower possesses a notable sweet fragrance with notes of citrus, bergamot, and honeysuckle.
Before its North American debut, this specific cultivar was introduced in Europe under the name ‘Jean de la Fontaine.’ The practice of giving a single rose variety different commercial names in different international markets is common, designed to maximize marketing appeal to diverse cultures.
Stewart shared that she worked on the project for two years with Danielle Dall’Armi Hahn, the owner of Rose Story Farm in California. In a post on her blog, Stewart expressed her delight, stating, “I am happy about many things these days but one thing that is really special is having a glorious, highly scented, and beautifully colored hybrid tea rose named after me.”
The Art and Commerce of New Rose Varieties
The creation and naming of new rose varieties are a meticulous and regulated process. The American Rose Society (ARS), founded in 1892, serves as the International Cultivar Registration Authority for Roses, maintaining a comprehensive database of all recognized rose varieties.
From Breeder to Garden Center
Breeders like Meilland spend years, sometimes over a decade, cross-pollinating thousands of roses to isolate specific desirable traits, such as disease resistance, unique coloration, bloom form, and fragrance. Only a handful of these trials result in a commercially viable plant. Once a new cultivar is perfected, a distributor like Star Roses and Plants propagates the rose for mass-market release to nurseries and independent garden centers.
What’s in a Name?
According to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, a new rose is given a unique registration name, which is often a code (e.g., ‘MEIclusif’ for the ‘Peace’ rose). However, for marketing purposes, it is also given a more appealing commercial name. Securing the rights to use a famous person’s name is a significant marketing strategy, leveraging their brand to attract consumers. These celebrity namesake roses often garner immediate press attention and consumer interest.
Stewart’s Influence on Garden Design
Martha Stewart has long been a powerful force in shaping American home and garden design aesthetics. Her emphasis on quality, meticulous care, and classic design principles has influenced millions of gardeners. The introduction of a rose bearing her name is a logical extension of her brand, which is synonymous with high standards.
Experts note that celebrity involvement in gardening has grown, often promoting the mental and physical benefits of the hobby. “When a high-profile figure like Martha Stewart puts their name on a plant, it validates a particular style of gardening,” said one industry analyst. “It also introduces a specific, curated plant to a massive audience that trusts her taste.”
The planting of 40 of her namesake roses in a formal layout on her farm—in what was once a vegetable garden—underscores her design philosophy of creating beautiful, orderly, and productive spaces.
While the limited initial stock of bare root ‘Martha Stewart’ roses has already sold out, the variety is scheduled for a wider release in independent garden centers starting in 2026. This timeline allows commercial growers to build up sufficient stock to meet the anticipated public demand.