LIEBESZAUBER 91® – dark red hybrid tea rose - Kordes
Imagine afternoon tea under an arbour as the velvety, dark-red blooms of LIEBESZAUBER 91® open in perfect, high‑centred elegance, each flower shaped like a classic florist rose. This hybrid tea brings a rich, classic rose fragrance that lingers in the air, setting a romantic, storybook mood even in smaller family gardens. Upright, balanced structure and glossy dark green foliage help it sit neatly among kitchen‑garden herbs, cottage perennials and low hedging, while its strong remontancy keeps flowers coming from early summer well into autumn. As an own‑root plant it offers quiet longevity, rebuilding from the base after harsher winters and maintaining ornamental value over many years. The pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre container is easy to handle, and once planted it establishes reliably, appreciating good soil preparation in wetter, wind‑prone gardens where drainage may need a little attention. Given a sunny spot and occasional deadheading, this variety offers dependable impact that intensifies as roots, then shoots, then full flowering display develop over its first three seasons.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose near a seating area or terrace |
The velvety, dark-red, high‑centred blooms read beautifully at eye level and from close range, making this rose ideal beside a bench, bistro set or patio door where you can admire their florist‑style elegance day after day – perfect for the romantic cottage‑garden homeowner. |
| Planting by doors, paths and frequently used routes |
The strong, classic scent is best appreciated where people pass regularly, such as along front paths or near back doors, allowing the rich fragrance to greet you on everyday walks through the garden – well suited to fragrance‑loving beginners. |
| Formal rose borders in small to medium gardens |
The upright, evenly branched growth and dense, glossy foliage create a tidy outline that fits traditional rose borders without overwhelming the space, giving structure and a smart look even in modest plots – reassuring for time‑pressed families. |
| Cut‑flower rows in kitchen and cottage gardens |
The long‑stemmed, solitary, exhibition‑type blooms are specifically suited to cutting, bringing classic dark‑red roses indoors for vases and special occasions while the plant continues to produce new buds – attractive for creative garden‑to‑vase enthusiasts. |
| Mixed planting with shrubs and perennials |
As an own‑root rose it reshoots strongly from the base after pruning or weather damage, supporting a long planting life within mixed borders where you want stable colour and form without frequent replacement – ideal for future‑minded garden planners. |
| Compact statement plant in large containers |
The upright habit suits a single‑specimen pot of at least 40–50 litres, where roots have room to develop and the display remains proportional, allowing balcony, terrace or courtyard gardeners to enjoy a feature rose with minimal fuss – helpful for urban residents. |
| Long‑season focal point in family gardens |
Strong repeat flowering ensures a generous second flush and further blooms into autumn, keeping beds lively after early summer plants have faded, so the garden still feels colourful during busy holiday periods – appealing to relaxed cottage‑style gardeners. |
| Roses in heavier or more exposed UK sites |
Once established, its own‑root system anchors well and copes steadily with typical British winters and showery, breezy spells, provided you offer reasonable drainage where soils are heavier and wetter – reassuring for practical, low‑maintenance‑seeking owners. |
Styling ideas
- Tea‑Arbour Romance – Train LIEBESZAUBER 91® beside a simple arch near a seating nook, underplant with soft catmint and lavender, and enjoy fragrant stems for the vase – for cottage‑garden romantics and tea‑time dreamers.
- Kitchen‑Garden Florist – Run a short row along the edge of a vegetable plot with Artemisia ‘Nana’ and Liatris spicata ‘Alba’ for cutting, combining formality of bloom with informal edibles – for home cooks who love arranging their own flowers.
- Courtyard Statement – Grow a single plant in a 50‑litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme around the rim, placing it by French doors so scent and colour spill indoors – for balcony and patio decorators seeking a focal point.
- Classic Front Border – Set a trio at recommended spacing with low box or lavender edging, using their upright habit and glossy foliage to frame a path in traditional style – for homeowners wanting tidy kerbside impact with minimal complexity.
- Evening Perfume Corner – Combine this rose with pale foxgloves and silvery sedums in a west‑facing bed where you sit after work, letting the deep red blooms glow against dusk light – for busy people who unwind outdoors in the evening.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
LIEBESZAUBER 91®, Hybrid Tea, registered as KORmiach; ARS exhibition name ‘Liebeszauber’. The German name means “love charm”, reflecting its intense, romantic dark‑red blooms. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, from unknown seedling × ‘Pink Panther’. Introduced and registered in 1991 by W. Kordes’ Söhne as a garden and exhibition hybrid tea. |
| Awards and recognition |
Fragrance Award at The Hague (1994), highlighting the variety’s rich, classic rose scent in international competition and confirming its quality as a perfumed hybrid tea rose. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright growth, about 100–140 cm tall and 70–110 cm wide, with dense, dark green, glossy foliage and moderate prickles. Self‑cleaning is weak, so spent blooms generally require deadheading. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, solitary hybrid tea flowers with over 40 petals, high‑centred, pointed buds and classic exhibition form. Strongly remontant, delivering a generous second flush and later repeats. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep velvety dark red, ARS dr, RHS 53A–53B, with wine‑red and burgundy tones. Colour lightens slightly in strong sun, remains deeper in cool weather, and holds a good, even appearance before fading. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, rich, classic rose fragrance, well noticeable outdoors and in the vase. Very double blooms limit nectar access, so it is grown primarily for ornamental and cut‑flower fragrance rather than pollinator support. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally low because of the densely double flower form. When produced, hips are small, spherical, around 8–12 mm in diameter, and orange‑red, adding a modest late‑season feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3). Disease resistance is moderate to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, with better performance under good air movement and care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well‑drained soil and regular watering in dry spells. Space 55–100 cm depending on use; allow 2.5–2.9 plants/m² in mass plantings. Maintain with deadheading and occasional pest control. |
LIEBESZAUBER 91® offers elegant, dark-red, fragrant blooms on a well‑structured, long‑lived own‑root plant that establishes reliably and repeats beautifully; a refined choice if you would like a classic romantic rose for everyday enjoyment.
