Rose Sophie Luise

‘Sophie Luise’ is a richly coloured, strongly fragrant Hybrid Tea rose that combines the upright growth and cutting quality of a modern large-flowered rose with the quartered, many-petalled form associated with historic garden roses. Its flowers open in saturated fuchsia-pink, crimson-magenta and purple-pink tones, forming sumptuous shallow cups or rosettes above a comparatively compact, upright plant. The fragrance is one of its main virtues: powerful, warm and recognizably Damask-like, with an oriental and sometimes spicy character. Introduced by Rosen Tantau it is marketed both as a garden rose and as a productive outdoor cut or spray rose. For gardeners seeking an intensely scented, dark-flowered rose of manageable height, it offers a particularly effective union of nostalgic flower form, repeat flowering and perfect stems for the vase.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The cultivar occupies an interesting position between the conventional exhibition-style Hybrid Tea and the modern romantic or nostalgic rose. Its stems are sufficiently upright and substantial for cutting, yet its flowers do not follow the narrow, high-centred spiral traditionally associated with twentieth-century Hybrid Teas. Instead, they become deeply cupped, rosette-shaped and distinctly quartered, with the inner petals divided into several folded sectors. The effect recalls the floral architecture of certain Damask, Bourbon and Centifolia roses, although the plant itself is a repeat-flowering modern Hybrid Tea rather than an Old Garden Rose.

Rosen Tantau’s professional cut-rose division describes ‘Sophie Luise’ as a Nostalgic Hybrid Tea spray rose. In this context, “spray” refers to its ability to produce branched flowering stems carrying more than one bloom, rather than to a separate formal garden classification. In a garden it may bear solitary flowers, pairs or small clusters, depending on pruning, vigour and the strength of the individual shoot. This variable presentation gives it greater landscape value than a strictly one-flower-per-stem Hybrid Tea, while selective disbudding can still be used when particularly large individual blooms are wanted for exhibition or cutting.

The cultivar is distinctive for the combination of intense magenta colouring, very full quartered flowers and powerful fragrance. Dark pink and purple Hybrid Teas are not uncommon, but many have either a conventional pointed form, a sparse plant habit or comparatively light fragrance. ‘Sophie Luise’ brings these traits together in a flower that is conspicuously opulent without requiring the space of a large English-style shrub rose.

FLOWERING

‘Sophie Luise’ has a repeat flowering habit, nearly continuous during favourable summers, and potentially abundant, usually beginning in June in temperate northern gardens and continuing in successive flushes until October or the first significant frosts. In practice, there will normally be short intervals between major flushes. Prompt removal of spent blooms, adequate watering and nutrition, and retention of healthy foliage encourage faster rebloom.

Flower bud:

The buds are generally dark crimson-red to raspberry-magenta before opening. They are ovate to broadly ovoid with a pointed tip, reflecting the eventual rounded, many-petalled flower. The outer petals enclose the bud tightly, so its first visible colour can appear deeper and redder than that of the mature bloom. As the sepals release, the bud broadens quickly and the first petals begin to roll outward, revealing increasingly vivid fuchsia and purple-pink tones.

The sepals have lanceolate shape, medium green in colour, there are typically 3 lightly appendaged sepals and 2 unappendaged sepals, the edges are covered with grayish glandular hairs. The receptacle is medium sized, short, chalice shaped, has medium green colour and smooth surface. The peduncles are sufficiently firm for use as cut flowers, rather short, about 4 -5 cm (1.2 - 2 inches) in leng and the flowering stems are approximately 40 - 60 cm (16 - 4 in) long in professional outdoor production.

Bloom:

The open flowers of the rose variety ‘Sophie Luise’ are normally about 8 - 10 cm (3–4 in) in diameter, although individual blooms may remain nearer 7 cm under stress or become slightly larger on strong, selectively disbudded shoots. Their initial form is a deep or moderately deep cup. As the bloom matures, it becomes a shallow cup or flattened rosette, with the centre divided into several petalled sections. This quartering is one of the cultivar’s defining ornamental characteristics.

Opening of the buds is progressive, the bud first develops into a rounded cup, after which the central petals loosen and divide into quarters. Cool weather may preserve the deep colour and ordered floral structure for longer, while warmth accelerates opening and may produce a broader, flatter rosette. Because the flowers are very full, prolonged cold rain can delay expansion, and shelter from persistent wet weather is advantageous where summers are cool and humid.

The flowers are full to very full, the normal flowers of this rose typically have 80 - 120 petals. Such variation may reflect whether small inner petaloids were included, as well as differences caused by season, climate and plant maturity.

The colour of the flowers varies from magenta-pink, dark fuchsia, purple-pink, crimson-pink or red-pink with violet reflections. These variations of the colour are caused by the complex colour range and growing conditions. In cool or moderately bright conditions, the flower is often a saturated fuchsia-magenta with a deeper crimson or purple cast in the central folds. Strong sunlight and high temperatures may shift the outer petals toward a clearer, warmer pink, while older flowers can acquire muted violet or wine-pink undertones.

The colour of ‘Sophie Luise’ is generally richer than that of a conventional mid-pink rose and is particularly effective beside silver foliage, violet-blue perennials, white flowers or pale grasses. Against dark evergreen planting, however, the flowers can visually recede unless the rose receives good frontal light. Pale companion plants such as Nepeta, Geranium, Gypsophila, white Salvia or light-coloured Phlox help reveal the depth of its magenta colouring.

Flowers may be borne singly, but most often they are produced in small clusters, of 3 to 9 blooms together. On young plants or after hard spring pruning, strong basal shoots may terminate in one dominant bloom with smaller lateral buds. On established plants pruned more moderately, the display is likely to be fuller and more clustered. In order to receive an exhibition quality single blooms per flowering stem the side buds should be removed to produce one large, high quality cut flower.

Petals:

The petals are substantial enough to retain the cupped and quartered form for a prolonged period, an attribute consistent with the cultivar’s selection for cutting. The outer petals are comparatively rounded, broad and form the supporting bowl of the flower. Inner petals are smaller, more folded and more numerous, creating the quartered centre. The margins of the petals are generally smooth to gently undulating. As the flower opens, the outer petals curve outward while the inner petals remain irregularly folded and incurved. This produces a controlled but not geometrically rigid rosette: each bloom has a recognizably quartered structure, yet the arrangement retains a natural, old-rose informality.

The petal texture is firm but not very thick: flowers have enough substance for cutting and possess reasonably good vase life in professional production. Their durability in the garden will nevertheless depend on temperature and rainfall. In hot, dry weather the outer petals may get burned, relax and fade more quickly, while extended rain can mark or adhere the densely overlapping petals. Generally petals are quite sensitive to unfavourable weather conditions in a garden, and this rose should not be considered as completely heat- or weatherproof. Aging flowers usually become more open and somewhat lighter at the edges, but they retain a broadly rosette outline. Deadheading should be carried out once the ornamental quality declines, cutting to a strong outward-facing leaflet or bud rather than merely removing the flower head.

Fragrance:

Fragrance is a major reason to grow ‘Sophie Luise’: it is intense and oriental, similar to the perfume and opulence of historic Damask roses, with spicy accents. The scent is generally strong, although fragrance always varies with temperature, humidity, time of day, soil moisture and the maturity of the individual flower. It is often most noticeable in warm but not excessively hot conditions, particularly in the morning or early evening. Cut blooms should be harvested when partly open if both fragrance and vase life are required.

Reproductive parts:

The reproductive structures are largely hidden by the dense inner petals and petaloids. Yellow stamens may become visible in a small central part as an old flower fully expands. Gardeners should not regard it as a rose selected for ornamental hips, and routine deadheading is preferable where repeat flowering is the main objective.

PLANT

Rose variety ‘Sophie Luise’ is classified horticulturally as a modern Hybrid Tea and, more specifically, as one of Rosen Tantau’s Nostalgie Hybrid Tea roses. It is a deciduous modern Hybrid Tea rose belonging to the romantic or nostalgic large-flowered type. The growth habit of this rose is upright, bushy and relatively compact. The mature and well-established plants of this rose generally grow up to about 80 - 120 cm (2.7 – 4 ft) in height and the width varies more widely, from approximately 45 - 50 cm (1.5 ft) to about 60 - 80 cm (2 - 2.7 ft) where mature plants are allowed to develop freely. Climate, rootstock, pruning and soil fertility will strongly influence its final dimensions.Such dimensions make it suitable for a middle border, a formal rose bed, a small fragrant garden or a dedicated cutting patch.

Its relevance to modern gardens also lies in its dual purpose. It is decorative as a specimen or in a small group, but its comparatively strong flower stems and reported vase durability give it practical value indoors. The breeder recommends a planting distance of approximately 45 - 50 cm (18 - 20 in), equivalent to four or five plants per square metre where a close, massed effect is intended. In a mixed border, slightly wider spacing is preferable to maintain air circulation and allow neighbouring perennials to develop without crowding the rose.

The plant is more substantial than a low patio rose but considerably easier to place than a broad shrub rose. It works well in groups of three, where the individual upright plants combine into a fuller mass, or as a single fragrant accent among herbaceous perennials. It is also suitable for traditional Hybrid Tea beds, scent gardens and cutting gardens. Rosen Tantau offers it not only as a bush rose but also in standard forms, in which the flowering cultivar is budded onto a raised stem.

A sunny site is preferable for ‘Sophie Luise’, ideally receiving at least six hours of direct light while remaining open to air movement. In climates with extremely hot summers, light afternoon shade may reduce scorching and preserve the saturated flower colour, but heavy shade will weaken stems, reduce flowering and increase disease pressure. The soil should be deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well drained. A moderately rich loam is ideal, although clay or lighter soils can be improved with mature organic matter.

Water deeply during establishment and through prolonged dry periods, directing water toward the soil rather than repeatedly wetting the foliage. Mulching with composted organic material helps moderate root temperature, conserve moisture and reduce the splashing of fungal spores from soil onto lower leaves. The mulch should not be heaped directly against the cane bases or graft union.

In late winter or early spring, remove dead, damaged, diseased and crossing growth. Hybrid Tea pruning can then be adjusted to the desired purpose. Cutting the remaining strong canes back relatively hard encourages fewer, larger flowers on long stems; a more moderate reduction preserves a bushier framework and usually produces a greater number of somewhat smaller blooms. Mature plants intended primarily for garden display may be reduced by roughly one-half, while weak shoots should be shortened more severely or removed entirely. Very hard annual pruning is unnecessary if the plant is already compact and well branched.

Feed in spring as growth begins and, where soils are not naturally fertile, again after the first major flowering flush. Excessive nitrogen should be avoided because it can produce soft growth at the expense of flowers and increase susceptibility to pests or mildew. Regular deadheading supports repeat bloom, but feeding should be reduced toward the end of summer in cold climates so that new canes have time to ripen before frost.

Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of ‘Sophie Luise’. The foliage is healthy and medium to large sized, has medium green colour, although its precise shade varies from medium green to dark green. The leaves are leathery and semi-glossy to matte. The foliage is sufficiently dense to clothe the upright plant and provides an effective background to the intense magenta blooms. On well-grown specimens the leaves contribute significantly to the rose’s ornamental value, preventing the plant from appearing merely as a collection of long, bare flowering stems.

Leaflets:

The leaves of rose ‘Sophie Luise’ are typical for modern Hybrid Teas, the number of the leaflets on a normal medium sized leaves in the middle of the flowering stem vary from 5 to 7 leaflets, but most often they are 7, including the terminal leaflet. The leaflets have ovate to elliptic shape with a rounded base and pointed, rather elongated apex, attached along a central rachis by short petiolules. The edges of the leaflets are serrated, the type of serration is small and single. Venation is pinnate, with a strong central midrib and finer lateral veins extending toward the toothed margins. The surface is leathery to moderately firm, which should help the leaves retain a presentable surface through ordinary summer weather, provided the plant is not stressed by drought or nutrient deficiency.

Wood:

The canes of this rose are upright, robust and capable of supporting large flowers without the consistently nodding as it is often seen in some romantic Shrub roses. Professional production of 40 - 60 cm (16–24 in) cut stems confirms the useful length and relative firmness of flowering shoots. Branching is sufficient for the plant to form a compact plant and, under suitable cultural conditions, to produce spray-like flower clusters. Young basal growth appears of a medium green colour and the bark is smooth, when matures the bark becomes gray brown, the bark remains smooth.

Prickles:

There is a normal quantity of the prickles present on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of the rose ‘Sophie Luise’. The prickles are medium sized, have pyramidal, slightly curved shape; the young prickles have light green colour and mature to gray. The cultivar should therefore be handled as a normally armed Hybrid Tea rose, using gloves during planting, pruning and cutting. Any large prickles present on flowering stems may need to be carefully removed below the water line when blooms are prepared for a vase. Excessive scraping of the stem should be avoided because damaged tissue can shorten vase life.

Small prickles:

Smaller prickles and glandular armature are not observed on the main canes of this rose variety under normal growing conditions on plants of ‘Sophie Luise’.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

Rose ‘Sophie Luise’ is considered disease resistant to most common rose pathogens, including to black spot, powdery mildew, botrytis and rose rust. Although powdery mildew may affect this rose, most often near the end of the season. It should not therefore be presented as immune or as having proven no-spray performance across all climates. Black spot may still occur where summers are rainy, foliage remains wet for long periods or infected leaves are allowed to accumulate beneath the plant. Powdery mildew is more likely where roots become dry while air around the foliage remains humid and stagnant.

In terms of winter hardiness, rose ‘Sophie Luise’ is recommended for growing in climates similar to USDA zone 6 - 8, corresponding to winter minima of approximately −20.5°C (−5°F). This should be regarded as an estimate rather than a published trial result. The commonly quoted temperature range would correspond approximately to RHS H6, but that equivalence is an interpretation of the reported minimum temperature, not an official RHS rating for the cultivar. In USDA zone 6 and colder continental climates, winter protection is prudent. Plant grafted roses with the union at or slightly below soil level according to local practice, mound the base with free-draining soil or compost after the ground begins to cool, and add a loose protective mulch once winter becomes established. Avoid severe autumn pruning; shorten only canes likely to whip in the wind, leaving final shaping until spring. In colder zone 5 gardens the rose may survive in favourable sheltered sites only with substantial protection.

Very hot afternoon sun may shorten flower life, lighten or even burn the petals. Like most repeatedly flowering Hybrid Teas, it performs best with regular moisture and a reasonable nutrient supply. Once established it can withstand brief dry periods, but repeated drought will reduce flower size and rebloom.

The official Rosen Tantau descriptions do not identify a particular person commemorated by the name ‘Sophie Luise’.

No independently verified ADR certificate, RHS Award of Garden Merit, All-America Rose Selections award, Australian National Rose Trial award or other formal international trial honor has been confirmed for ‘Sophie Luise’ up to this date.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Tan12662’ / 'Sophie Luise' was bred by Christian Evers and introduced by Rosen Tantau of Germany in 2019. The precise parentage has not been disclosed to this date, and likely originates from the private breeding line of Rosen Tantau. The rose was introduced in two related commercial contexts. Rosen Tantau’s garden-rose catalogue presents it as a Nostalgie® Hybrid Tea suitable for mixed planting and cutting, while the professional cut-rose division markets this rose as a Nostalgic Hybrid Tea spray rose for outdoor production and cultivation under film or unheated protective structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The modern nostalgic Hybrid Tea arose from Rosen Tantau efforts to recover the fragrance, cupped forms and dense petal arrangements of historic roses without sacrificing recurrent flowering, broader colour possibilities or the useful upright stems of modern Hybrid Teas. ‘Sophie Luise’ represents the darker, more sensuous side of this breeding direction. Rather than using pale blush, cream or apricot colouring to evoke historic roses, it combines a Damask fragrance and quartered form with a saturated modern magenta. Its flower form may remind gardeners of English Roses, but its more upright, comparatively narrow structure and cut-flower stems retain a clear Hybrid Tea character.

The cultivar is also representative of increasing overlap between garden roses and specialty cut roses. Traditional garden Hybrid Teas were often selected for one large flower on each long stem, while spray roses were bred primarily for the florist trade. ‘Sophie Luise’ can function in both roles. In the garden, branched stems increase the number of visible flowers; in cutting production, the same tendency can provide romantic spray stems with multiple blooms.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

‘Sophie Luise’ is a fragrant, repeat-flowering Hybrid Tea for gardeners who value the depth and complexity of an old-fashioned flower but prefer the disciplined height and useful stems of a modern rose. Its greatest assets are the saturated magenta-fuchsia colouring, full quartered flowers and powerful Damask perfume. This rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  large, very full, quartered flowers in saturated fuchsia-magenta and purple-pink shades;

  strong oriental fragrance with a pronounced historic Damask rose character;

  upright, compactly bushy Hybrid Tea habit suitable for borders, small groups and standard forms;

  repeat flowering from early summer into autumn, with solitary blooms or small spray-like clusters;

  strong 40 - 60 cm flowering stems and very good vase durability.

Propagation suitable for ‘Sophie Luise’ includes commercial budding or grafting onto an appropriate rose rootstock, the method commonly used for bare-root bushes and standard roses. Budding onto a tall prepared rootstock is required to produce the standard or tree-rose form. Own-root plants may also be raised from softwood or semi-ripe stem cuttings under controlled humidity, although rooting success, mature vigour and winter performance can differ from grafted plants.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

Precise seed and pollen parent documentation for this cultivar was not officially published, therefore, a formal comparison with parents cannot be made.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

Among commercially available roses, the rose variety ‘Soul’ is most similar and provides one of the closest comparisons in overall colour, nostalgic flower form and strength of perfume. Both roses bear large, very full flowers around 8 - 10 cm (3 - 4 in) in diameter in the crimson-purple to magenta range, and both combine romantic full rosette flowers with an intense fragrance recalling historic roses.

The principal difference lies in classification and plant character. ‘Sophie Luise’ is an upright Nostalgie Hybrid Tea, generally lower, with useful 40 - 60 cm (16 – 24 in) cutting stems and flowers borne singly or in small clusters. ‘Soul’ is a Nostalgie Shrub rose, usually taller, considerably bushier, more freely branching and better suited to hedges, the back of a border. The flowers of ‘Sophie Luise’ tend toward bright fuchsia-magenta or dark pink-red with violet reflections and a clearly quartered centre. ‘Soul’ is generally darker and more crimson-purple, often giving a weightier, velvety impression. Its fragrance is intense and Old rose with herbal nuances, whereas ‘Sophie Luise’ is more specifically Damask, with some spicy accents.

‘Soul’ has stronger independent evidence of landscape disease resistance and received ADR recognition, making it the preferable choice where a large, broadly branched and exceptionally robust shrub is required. ‘Sophie Luise’ is the more suitable cultivar where space is limited, upright stems are desired for cutting, or the gardener wants a recognizably Hybrid Tea plant carrying quartered romantic flowers.

USDA 6

USDA Zone 6 - hardiness guide