Rose Reine des Violettes

The remontant hybrid 'Reine des Violettes' is a true treasure among Old fragrant roses. For more than a century, its popularity has approached cult status - largely due to its rare, evocative coloration and its rich, old-rose fragrance. The flower color is notably variable, responding sensitively to season, weather, planting site, soil, and climate. Typically, the blooms display velvety outer petals of deep crimson-red, gradually softening into purplish-lilac and violet tones, while the reverse of the petals is silvery-pink and silky, creating a striking contrast in its very full quartered flowers. The button-eye in the centre makes such contrast even more pronounced.

The flowers are large, measuring to about 9 - 11 cm (3.5 - 4.3 inches) in diameter when fully open, with the average diameter of about 10 cm (4 inches), and are very full, with about 50 to 75 petals per flower. Their form ranges from cup-shaped to flatter rosette, often quartered, with a prominent button-eye in the center. Numerous petals display subtle tonal shifts of lilac-violet, purplish-lilac, and lavender, usually with a lighter center. Blooms arise from cherry-red buds on short stems, appearing singly or in small, tight clusters of 3 - 5 flowers. Individual flowers are not long-lasting, but their succession ensures an extended display. The fragrance is strong, classic, and intensely evocative of Old roses.

Flowering occurs in flushes, repeating in generous waves throughout the season, with the autumn display often equaling the first. Removal of spent flowers encourages continued rebloom.

The plants of this rose form a large, upright to slightly sprawling plant, generally about 150 - 200 cm (4.9 - 6.6 ft) in height and of about 100 - 150 cm (3.3–4.9 ft) wide, though in some conditions it may reach up to 250 cm (8.2 ft) in height. The growth character is strong and branching. The stems are reddish, smooth, and almost without prickles, bearing matte gray-green foliage that is healthy but bears a small quantity of pickles, allowing the flowers to remain the focal point. In some plantings, the rose can also be trained as a small climber or columnar rose by tying its long, flexible shoots to a support.

Disease resistance is moderate, with some susceptibility to powdery mildew and black spot, as well as average tolerance to rain. However, the variety is highly responsive to attentive care. It thrives with fertile soil, regular watering, timely fertilization, and preventative disease management. To maintain a compact habit, it may be pruned fairly hard, or alternatively, long shoots can be trained to supports for vertical effect.

Frost resistance is good, suitable for growing in climates similar to USDA Zones 4b - 9b (often listed as suitable for Zone 5 in some sources). The rose rose variety 'Reine des Violettes' is shade tolerant and performs particularly well in partial shade, where flower color is richer and less prone to fading than in strong direct sun.

'Reine des Violettes' is ideally suited to romantic gardens, plantings near supports or pyramidal rose structures, and works beautifully both as a solitary specimen and in group plantings, where it forms a richly colored mass. Its cool violet and lilac tones create a striking accent among pink and pale pink roses.

A universally recognized classic, this old-fashioned reblooming rose fully lives up to its name - "Queen of the Violets". From early summer until autumn, the large shrub is adorned with very full, rosette-like blooms in subtle purple hues, filling the garden with a deep, sweet, and unmistakably rich Old rose perfume.

The name 'Reine des Violettes' translates as "Queen of the Violets".

Paris Silver Medal, Exposition d'Horticulture Paris, 1860;

Victorian (ARS), Western Reserve Rose Society, 1999 and 2012;

Dowager Rose Queen (ARS), New York State District, 1999;

Dowager Rose Queen (ARS), Rose Society of Tucson Show, 1999;

Dowager Rose Queen (ARS), Toledo Rose Society, 2000;

Dowager Rose Queen (ARS), North Bay Rose Society, 2001;

Seedling of ‘Pope Pius IX’ (Hybrid Perpetual, bred by Jean-Pierre Vibert, 1848)

USDA 6