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Olympiad (Rosa 'Olympiad'), whole plant
  • Olympiad — close-up of leaves and flowers
  • Olympiad — seasonal appearance
  • Olympiad in a garden setting

Olympiad

Rosa 'Olympiad'

Medium · Some experience

About Olympiad

Olympiad is a bright medium-red hybrid tea rose famous for its non-fading color in summer heat, producing 4 to 5 inch high-centered blooms on long cutting stems. Growing 4 to 5 feet tall with disease-resistant foliage, this 1984 AARS winner was the official rose of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and remains a top exhibition and cutting rose.

  • Cut-flower
WATER
Regular
Top inch dry
LIGHT
Full sun
6+ hrs direct
HARDY
Hardy to -20°F (-29°C)
USDA hardiness zones 5–9

How to care for Olympiad

Watering

  • Springevery 5 days
  • Summerevery 3 days
  • Fallevery 7 days
  • Winterevery 14 days

Soil · Rich & loamy

  • Top dressingBark mulch15%
  • Main mixRich loam + compost 3:170%
  • DrainageGravel15%

Use fully finished compost — fresh compost burns roots.

FERTILIZER

Balanced Feed 14-14-14

An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.

N33%P33%K33%
  • Nitrogen · Leaves
  • Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
  • Potassium · Strength
  • Springevery 30 days
  • Summerevery 30 days
  • Fallevery 45 days
Get watering reminders for Olympiad — free on iPhoneDownload on the App Store

At a Glance

  • NativeAustralasia
  • Height4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m)
  • Spread3–4 ft (0.9–1.2 m)
  • Flower colorRed
  • Foliage colorGreen
  • SoilLoamy, Well-drained, Rich
  • LocationsYard

Bloom time

BLOOM CYCLE

Peak bloom

May–Sep

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Deadhead for repeat bloom; prune late winter

Fragrance

LIGHT FRAGRANCE

The flowers have a light tea-rose scent.

Toxicity

Humans Slight

Unknown toxic principle

Slight

  • Stem
  • Contact

EXPOSURE Touching stems.

EFFECT Pricks from thorns.

NOTE Not toxic; thorns cause mechanical injury.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for dogs; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Safe

EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.

EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.

NOTE Listed as non-toxic for cats; avoid eating ornamental plants unless confirmed edible.

Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

DISTRIBUTION

Olympiad · Native
  • Native
  • Australasia

History

Illustrated historical scene for Olympiad

Rosa 'Olympiad' is a vivid medium-red hybrid tea rose bred by Northern Irish-born New Zealand hybridizer Sam McGredy IV, released in 1982 from a cross between 'Red Planet' and 'Pharaoh'. The Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee selected the cultivar as the official rose of the 1984 Games, and the entire marathon route was lined with it. 'Olympiad' won the All-America Rose Selections award in 1984 and the Portland Gold Medal the same year, earning a reputation as one of the most reliable reds ever bred: the blooms hold their brilliant clear crimson in strong sun without fading or purpling, and the plant resists disease better than most older reds.

Light tea-rose fragrance. Long stems make it a superb cut flower. Still widely grown by American exhibitors for its near-perfect classic form and heat-tolerant color.

Symbolism & meaning

What It Symbolizes

Olympiad Rose is victory in clear, brilliant red, a Hybrid Tea introduced to commemorate the 1984 Olympic Games. With its championship-class exhibition form, it has gone on to win medal after medal in its own competitive arena. In every velvety bloom lies a small podium dedicated to floral excellence.

  • Victory — Olympic games commemorative rose
  • Excellence — championship exhibition form

Where the Name Comes From

Named 'Olympiad' as the official rose of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.

Uses & Fun Facts

  • Long stems and non-fading red prized for exhibition arranging
  • Disease-resistant red hybrid tea for formal rose beds
  • Official rose of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games

Related plants

More Rosa plants

Plants with similar care

Frequently asked questions

How often should I water Olympiad?

In summer, water about every 3 days; in winter, about every 14 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.

How much light does Olympiad need?

Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.

Is Olympiad toxic to cats or dogs?

Pets Safe (Dogs Safe · Cats Safe) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Is Olympiad easy to grow?

It is moderately demanding: a good choice once you have a little experience.

When does Olympiad bloom?

It typically blooms May–Sep in the Northern Hemisphere.

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