Schwarze Madonna™ hybrid tea rose – KORschwama
Step outside after a shower and you will find Schwarze Madonna™ glowing with velvety, almost black‑red blooms, a softly romantic focus in your Irish cottage or terraced front garden. This upright hybrid tea offers generous repeat flowering from summer into autumn, its colour holding beautifully even under grey skies and brisk coastal breezes where Atlantic conditions add drama rather than damage. Own‑root plants settle in steadily for a long, reliable life, rebuilding from the base if frost or pruning take them back, and asking only simple, occasional deadheading. Over time you will see the natural rhythm of longevity in your beds: in the first season it concentrates on rooting, in the second it pushes stronger shoots, and by the third it reveals its full character and ornamental impact. The subtly perfumed blooms are ideal for cutting, bringing that dark elegance indoors with minimal gardening effort.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Main feature in a small front garden |
Its upright habit and dramatic dark red colour create a strong focal point without needing a large border, ideal beside a path or gate where a single bush makes a statement yet stays manageable for the casual gardener, including beginners. |
| Romantic cottage‑style mixed bed |
Reliable repeat flowering and long‑lasting blooms weave easily among perennials, giving months of colour with straightforward care so you can enjoy that short walk in soft rain without worrying about complex pruning or spraying, perfect for busy homeowners. |
| Own‑root long‑term specimen planting |
As an own‑root plant it ages gracefully, renewing from the base if cut back by weather or hard pruning, so the bush keeps its shape and flower quality over many years with simple annual tidying, suiting patience‑minded gardeners. |
| Cut‑flower row for home vases |
The large, high‑centred blooms with sturdy stems are ideal for cutting, and regular picking naturally encourages new growth and further buds, giving you elegant indoor arrangements without specialist technique, attractive for creative decorators. |
| Low‑maintenance family back garden bed |
Good resistance to common fungal problems means less spraying and fewer worries in damp Irish summers, while occasional feeding and mulching are usually enough to keep it flowering well, reassuring for time‑pressed carers. |
| Small group or short hedge planting |
Planted 40–50 cm apart, several bushes create a rich, dark ribbon of colour that repeats through the season; spacing is easy to judge and upkeep is limited mainly to light pruning and deadheading, manageable for practical planners. |
| Large container on patio or terrace |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage it performs reliably, letting you enjoy its colour and subtle scent close to the house while controlling soil and watering more easily through showery spells and summer breezes, ideal for urban balcony‑owners. |
| Exposed but sheltered coastal‑town garden |
Its sturdy growth and resilient foliage cope well where sea air and frequent showers meet, fitting naturally into gardens that feel fresh and green under soft light and shifting weather, giving steady interest to Atlantic‑side residents. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage‑Romance – Underplant with soft pink geraniums and sky‑blue campanula to set off the velvety dark blooms in a relaxed, low‑maintenance border – ideal for cottage‑style dreamers.
- Drama‑Border – Pair with silver foliage plants like Stachys and pale grasses to highlight the intense flower colour and upright habit – suitable for lovers of bold contrasts.
- Terrace‑Elegance – Grow in a 50‑litre clay pot with white alyssum at the base to enjoy repeat blooms and subtle scent by the front door – perfect for city terrace owners.
- Cutting‑Corner – Line a sunny fence with several bushes and interplant with white phlox for an easy‑care cutting patch that keeps vases filled – appealing to home florists.
- Climber‑Companion – Combine with a pale clematis like ‘Snow Queen’ on a nearby support so the light flowers contrast against its dark, repeat‑blooming background – great for creative plant matchers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Schwarze Madonna™ hybrid tea rose (Rós taehibride); registered as KORschwama, with American Rose Society exhibition name Schwarze Madonna™, classified within the hybrid tea group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm II, Reimer and Werner Kordes at W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, from ‘Konrad Henkel’ × unnamed seedling; bred before 1991 and introduced to the market in 1992. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised on the show bench with honours including Queen of Show at Detroit and Forest City Rose Society shows and Court of Show at the Metropolitan Rose Society Show in the United States. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy plant 100–140 cm tall and 60–80 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; spent blooms persist and usually require manual removal after flowering. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, fully double blooms 7–10 cm across, with 26–39 petals, solitary on stems, cup‑shaped with a medium‑high, classic hybrid tea centre and good remontancy giving a strong second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark red with purplish sheen; ARS code DR, RHS 187A outer and 187B inner; colour holds well, only slightly lightening in hot spells, with pre‑fading tones deepening rather than greying. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Elegant, subtle rose fragrance of mild intensity, noticeable at close range without being overpowering, making it suitable for small gardens and cut‑flower use indoors in compact spaces. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small hips 10–14 mm, ovoid and orange‑red (RHS 40A), adding a discreet seasonal accent where deadheading is relaxed but generally not a dominant ornamental feature on the plant. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (H7; USDA 6b), with documented resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; tolerates moderate heat and drought but needs regular watering in prolonged dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well‑drained soil; plant 40–75 cm apart depending on use, using 4.2–4.8 plants/m² for massing; suitable for beds, containers and cutting, with routine deadheading for best effect. |
Schwarze Madonna™ offers dramatic dark red blooms, reliable repeat flowering and a long‑lived own‑root habit that suits compact Irish gardens, making it a thoughtful choice if you want enduring impact with modest effort.
