Rosa 'Guinée'

The 'Guinea' Climbing Rose, a powerful evocation of historic Tea roses, is undoubtedly the most sumptuous of climbing roses with dark red flowers, a true homage to the black beauties from distant lands where summer is endless. Its opulent roses are woven of crimson satin and velvety in a perfumed whirlwind in which black reflections drown, imprisoning the heavy fragrance of ancient roses. They are double, heavy with petals, shaped like open cups and of an unchanging colour, embroidered with a surprising heart of golden stamens. Its vegetation, on the other hand, is rather average and sensitive to extreme cold. It is, therefore, best suited for mild climates.

The 'Guinea' Rose is part of the complex family of hybrid tea roses. It is very close to historic tea roses, which are not very hardy, generally have a climbing habit, and are sensitive to severe pruning. It was created by the French rose breeder Charles Mallerin in 1938. It is a sarmentous rose with a flexible habit and thorny stems reaching 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 feet) in height and 1 to 2 metres (3 to 7 feet) in width, depending on the growing conditions. Its growth is of medium vigour, and its dark green, shiny and deciduous foliage is quite susceptible to diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew, which will require preventive treatment. It stands out for the unique colour and texture of its large solitary roses, 10 cm (4in) wide, and its heady fragrance, awarded by the City of Lyon in 1938. While its summer flowering is dazzling, the repeat flowering is irregular and depends on the care given to the plant.

'Guinea' is simply a magnificent rose, full and dark, to be showcased on a small post, a column, trained on an arch near the terrace, even in a small garden, to enjoy its exceptional fragrance fully. It is incomparable for adding a touch of theatricality, planted above slightly romantic beds. It pairs well with the mauve roses of Blue Girl, Sissi, or the white corollas of the English rose Winchester Cathedral. It is an ideal companion for flowering shrubs (buddleias, mock oranges, hibiscus) and perennials such as bellflowers and foxgloves, adding immense charm.