Rosa Louis XIV- China Rose,

The 'Louis XIV' Rose is an old hybrid of the China Rose, which forms a small, graceful and ramified bush, majestic despite its modest size under its summer coat, sprinkled with double roses of the darkest red. It offers modest but sumptuous, turbinate flowers, whose petals seem to be cut from a thick velvet garnet populated with black reflections. Its flowering, with the scent of tea rose, renews itself throughout the summer. This enchanting but somewhat weakly structured bush clearly prefers the mildness of warm climates. Rose enthusiasts in less favorable climatic zones will adopt this little gem in a beautiful ceramic pot on the terrace, to be stored away from severe frost in winter.

The 'Louis XIV' rose, sometimes marketed under the name 'Nigrette' rose, is a very old horticultural hybrid, obtained in 1859 in France by the rose grower Guillot. Like many old roses related to Rosa chinensis, hardiness is not its strong point. This bushy shrub will not exceed 80cm (31.5in) in height and 60cm (23.6in) in width, with a rather slow growth. Its deciduous foliage is carried by slender, sparsely prickly stems. Its colour is a beautiful medium bluish-green, with a very shiny appearance. It blooms from June to September-October, regularly. From rounded buds with purple hues, double flowers with a slightly informal shape, about 8cm (3.1in) wide, emerge, formed by 20 to 39 very large, velvety petals, a nearly black red on the outside, slightly lighter in the centre. Just before fading, they reveal a golden yellow stamen centre. The scent of these roses is medium to strong, pleasant, typical of tea roses.

The 'Louis XIV' rose is intended for gardens spared by severe frost, as its hardiness does not exceed -12°C (10.4 °F) in very healthy soil. Its cultivation, somewhat delicate, will be reserved for experienced gardeners and seasoned collectors, who will choose a well-suited location for it, in front of a shrub bed and along a pathway, or near a passage, to admire its almost black roses up close and breathe in their sweet fragrance. It also deserves to be planted in scented gardens, among evergreen foliage of white or silver bushy artemisias, which enhance the "black" flowers. Soft pink flowers, such as masterworts and asters, will flatter it while providing welcome shade. This small variety thrives very well in a large pot on the terrace.