Schwarze Madonna™ hybrid tea rose – KORschwama
Step off the pavement and into a front garden that feels quietly composed: Schwarze Madonna™ weaves velvet depth and subtle fragrance into an easy-care rhythm that suits busy weeks and cool, damp weekends alike, coping gracefully with blustery showers and heavy coastal downpours while its dark, glossy foliage stays clean and healthy. Strong, upright stems carry large, perfectly shaped blooms for cutting, while own-root resilience supports a long, steady life in your soil with minimal fuss. Over time, the plant builds a dependable framework, its polished, dark-green foliage catching light against brick, slate and gravel, and its reserved, elegant colour balancing softer planting around it. Ideal for London terraces and small family plots, it handles peat-free compost, rainwater butts and simple care routines, rewarding patient gardeners who enjoy progress, as roots establish, shoots strengthen and full ornamental presence settles in by year three, offering durable elegance in a compact, sustainable city space.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| London terraced-house front garden bed |
The upright, compact habit fills a narrow front border without overwhelming the space, while dark, velvety blooms create a refined focal point against railings or brick. Low maintenance and good disease resistance ease care for a busy urban gardener |
| Rainwater-conscious city planting with heavy soil |
Well-structured roots and robust foliage cope reliably with British showers and breezy spells, especially where simple drainage improvements manage wetter, heavier clay typical of many front gardens. Suitable for a sustainability-minded rainwater collector |
| Large container (minimum 40–50 litres) by the front door |
In a substantial pot with peat-free compost, this rose forms a vertical accent with repeat dark-red blooms and glossy green leaves, giving a smart, long-lived welcome without complex pruning. Best for a convenience-seeking small-space owner |
| Cut-flower corner in a family garden |
Long, straight stems and large, classic hybrid tea blooms in a dramatic shade lend themselves to cutting for the house, while the shrub remains tidy and upright outdoors. Attractive for a home-focused flower arranger |
| Statement specimen in a mixed border |
Planted as a solitary highlight amid lighter perennials, the rich, almost black-tipped buds and dense foliage give year-round structure, with flowers emerging repeatedly through the season. Ideal for a design-aware border planner |
| Low-intervention family rose bed |
Reliable disease resistance and a naturally neat framework reduce the need for sprays and complex shaping, supporting a simple yearly tidy-up and basic feeding regime. Suitable for a relaxed weekend gardener |
| Pollinator-aware but ornamental-focused planting |
Though fully double and only moderately attractive to insects, its prolonged flowering period supports overall garden interest, allowing room for pollinator plants like lavender and nepeta nearby. Well suited to an aesthetically minded wildlife sympathiser |
| Long-term structural planting in small gardens |
As an own-root plant, it establishes steadily into a durable framework, sprouting reliably from the base if cut back hard and offering a stable display over many years. A good fit for a future-oriented garden investor |
Styling ideas
- Moonlit – combine Schwarze Madonna™ with white clematis and silver grasses for a high-contrast, evening-friendly front garden – for terrace owners who enjoy after-work unwinding outdoors
- Heritage – pair with lavender, sage and nepeta to soften the dark blooms and invite more pollinators around your doorway – for city gardeners wanting classic charm with practical biodiversity
- Modernist – plant in a large charcoal container with evergreen box balls and slate chippings for a graphic, low-clutter entrance – for minimalists seeking structure with very little upkeep
- Romantic – weave through a narrow border with pale pink roses and airy perennials to let the deep red flowers act as gentle exclamation points – for those curating a soft, “girly” street frontage
- Vertical – set it before Boston ivy or another climber-clad wall so the dark flowers glow against layered greens – for small-plot gardeners maximising every metre of height
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose; registered as KORschwama, marketed as Schwarze Madonna™ hybrid tea rose, approved ARS exhibition name Schwarze Madonna™, formerly without alternative trade names. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm II, Reimer and Werner Kordes in Germany from ‘Konrad Henkel’ × unnamed seedling; raised before 1991, registered 1991 and introduced by W. Kordes’ Söhne in 1992. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly regarded as an exhibition hybrid tea; honoured as Queen of Show by ARS-affiliated societies in Detroit (1999) and Forest City (2001), plus Court of Show in the Metropolitan Rose Society Show. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong, upright bush reaching 100–140 cm high and 60–80 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickles; spent blooms may need removal to maintain a tidy overall appearance. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double flowers with 26–39 petals, borne mainly singly on stems; classic hybrid tea form with a medium-high, well-defined centre and good repeat bloom, including a generous second flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Very dark, velvety red with blackish bud tips and purplish sheen; colour holds well without greying, only slightly lightening in strong heat, and deepens to brownish-maroon tones as flowers age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Refined, understated rose scent of mild strength, adding an elegant note without overwhelming small spaces or indoor arrangements when used as a cut flower in compact homes or entrance halls. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces occasional ovoid rose hips, around 10–14 mm in diameter, coloured orange-red (RHS 40A), adding a discreet seasonal detail rather than a dominant ornamental feature in autumn. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7 and hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (USDA 6b), with good resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; benefits from regular watering during extended warm, dry periods. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in a sunny position with well-drained soil; plant 40–75 cm apart depending on use, water deeply in dry spells, deadhead for repeat flowering, and lightly prune to maintain an upright framework. |
Schwarze Madonna™ offers velvety dark-red blooms, robust health and a long-lived, easily rejuvenated own-root structure; a thoughtful choice if you would like enduring impact from a single, dramatic rose.
