Question
Hello Ms. Callan,

I'm interested in growing dark, velvety red roses in a pot and I was wondering if you could provide me a list of names to choose from.  I'm also curious to know if any of them makes a good rose petal tea.  I have no experience in growing roses but would very much like to give it a shot.  I live in Hawaii.  Thanks in advance!

Answer
I can give you a list of dark velvety red roses but they may not make good rose tea. I would suggest that before you make the tea, pick the petals when they are at their best such as newly opened. No brown edges or limp looking petals. Not all rose petals make good tea. I would also suggest that you test a petal by pouring boiling water over one and then seeing if the taste is bitter or not as some petals will be bitter. Here are the roses.
Papa Meilland
Firefighter
Barkarole
Grande Amore
Amadeus
Charles Mallerin
Exstase
Ena Harkness
Mister Lincoln
Oklahoma
Sir Donald Bradman