Cardinal de Richelieu – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL rooted rose cutting
Heritage collectors and specialist nurseries can rely on this historical Gallica shrub as a premium own-root propagation base for premium containers and speciality ranges, combining dense foliage, moderate vigour and a bushy habit that finishes well in 5–7 L production. Its once-flowering, very full, cluster-rosette blooms in deep colour deliver strong visual impact and a moderate, balsamic-berry fragrance that supports high-value selection/specialty positioning for thematic rose gardens and curated collections. Own-root material underpins long-lived, regenerating stands with predictable quality for nursery networks and public-realm supply in cooler regions where reliable winter hardiness and wind tolerance are key. With a medium maintenance profile and manageable disease resistance, it fits planned crop protection regimes, while the development from root establishment in year one, through structural build-up in year two, to full ornamental expression in year three supports stable scheduling and repeatable product planning.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L heritage shrub container – bush-trained, discreetly supported plants offered as premium container, specialty stock, focusing on historic origin and deep crimson-purple rosette blooms – target: retail/collector.
- Thematic Gallica collection line – coordinated 5–7 L own-root shrubs grouped with other historical roses to build a complete thematic rose garden offer, emphasising winter hardiness and characterful flower form – target: retail/collector.
- Fragrance highlight feature pot – selected plants finished for peak once-flowering display, marketed around the moderate balsamic, berry-like scent and dense foliage for display gardens and parks – target: retail/collector.
- Historic cut-flower block starter – nursery-supplied shrubs contract-grown as own-root propagation lots for park or estate cutting beds, using medium maintenance and predictable once-flowering to plan labour – target: retail/collector.
- Collector’s award selection SKU – labelled to reference RHS Award of Garden Merit and old garden rose exhibition credentials, offered as a premium silver quality, selection/specialty container line – target: retail/collector.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Current trade name Cardinal de Richelieu, American Rose Society exhibition name matching; historical rose, Gallica group, exhibition category old garden rose – Gallica; no registered cultivar name recorded. |
| Origin and breeding |
Historical Rosa gallica hybrid of unknown parentage, bred by Louis-Joseph-Ghislain Parmentier in Belgium; introduction noted from around 1840, unregistered cultivar used widely as a heritage garden rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds RHS Award of Garden Merit (1993), and American Rose Society distinctions including Dowager Rose Queen (2001) and Old Garden Rose Bloom or Spray (2020), underpinning its value for collectors and heritage plantings. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub to about 125–180 cm high with 90–140 cm spread; dense, matt, dark-green foliage with sparsely thorned shoots; moderate self-cleaning so occasional manual removal of spent blooms can improve presentation. |
| Flower morphology |
Very full, rosette-shaped, cluster-flowered blooms with 40+ petals and medium flower size around 1.5–2.75 inches; displays a single main flowering period without remontancy, suited to once-flowering display concepts. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds nearly black-purple; newly opened flowers rich deep crimson-purple with paler mauve-lilac; full bloom velvety plum-lilac with greyish tones, later fading towards smoky lavender-lilac, with colour holding better in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Moderate-strength, noticeably fragrant blooms with a balsamic, berry-like character; highly double form encloses the stamens, so the cultivar is primarily ornamental and of limited interest for pollinator-orientated plantings. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally low due to very double flowers; when present, produces occasional spherical hips about 14–22 mm in diameter, coloured red–orange, adding a discrete seasonal interest to established shrubs. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate general disease resistance with susceptibility to rust, requiring occasional plant protection; tolerates heat with moderate drought tolerance; hardy to about -32 to -29 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 5, USDA 4b) for cold climates. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for flower beds, parks, solitary specimens, urban green spaces and niche cut use; medium maintenance with occasional protection; best released bush-trained with discreet support from 5–7 L premium specialty containers. |
Cardinal de Richelieu offers award-backed historic character, cold-hardy, bushy shrub performance and own-root longevity for dependable, regenerating stock bases; we invite you to discuss volumes, scheduling and integration into your heritage range.
