La Belle Sultane stands out with its velvety, dark crimson-red flowers with purple nuances. The open blooms reveal a splendid heart of golden-yellow stamens. A beautiful contrast that gives this historic garden rose a distinctive appearance.

This old Gallica rose is also known as ‘Violacea’ and originated in the Low Countries at the end of the eighteenth century. It is generally dated to before 1795, although its exact year of introduction and breeder are unknown. This makes it considerably older than the Belle Époque and a remarkable representative of Europe’s rose heritage.

Its name, ‘the beautiful sultana’, is sometimes associated with Aimée du Buc de Rivéry, a distant relative of Empress Joséphine. According to legend, she ended up in a sultan’s harem after being abducted. This story gives the rose a romantic history, but the origin of the name has not been established with certainty.

La Belle Sultane blooms profusely once in early summer. Its single to semi-double flowers are accessible to bees and other pollinators. If you leave the spent flowers in place, round, red rose hips may appear in autumn.

The shrub grows upright, with slender branches and few thorns. It looks beautiful as a solitary shrub or planted in a group, for example among airy perennials. Give it sufficient space and prune it immediately after flowering if necessary.

Photo: www.rosesanciennesenfrance.org