Bred in 1866; a classic dark rose of Victorian gardens – crimson-red, shaded almost to black, with a luxurious old-rose fragrance.
Old-fashioned (Hybrid Perpetual) · also known as Prince Noir
Repeat-flowering in flushes (summer – autumn); the second flush is weaker. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.
A living classic of the Victorian era
USDA zone 6b–9b. Winter-hardy old rose.
Compare reference temperatures
Strong – a rich old-rose fragrance, the variety's main attraction.
Moderate; in a wet summer needs powdery mildew prevention.
Morning sun and shade at midday – so the colour does not fade.
Thorny – typical of old repeat-flowering roses.
Matt, light green.
Dark crimson-red with purple, shaded almost to black; with age it turns lilac-purple
Munstead Wooddark raspberry
Tuscany Superbpurple-raspberry
The Dark Ladydark red
William Shakespeare 2000raspberry-purpleA company of old-fashioned, fragrant dark varieties in tune with the mood:
A lavender-silver framework in the spirit of an old garden:
Soft cool tones that suit the Victorian mood:
Where to plant. A romantic corner in an old-fashioned garden style, a mixed border with perennials, or beside a bench or path so the strong scent can be enjoyed. Light: morning sun and shade from the midday heat, or dappled shade. In open sun the dark petals fade to mauve more quickly; the colour is deepest in cool weather and in shade.
Care. As for an old rose – light pruning (repeat-flowering roses are not cut back hard), tying in long canes, powdery mildew prevention.
Name. Black Prince – for its dark, almost black colour; the French name is Prince Noir.
Breeding. Bred by William Paul in Britain in 1866. It belongs to the repeat-flowering roses (Hybrid Perpetual) – the class from which modern repeat-flowering roses developed in the nineteenth century. Important: this is a genuine old rose, not a modern Hybrid Tea (as some catalogues mistakenly state). Its value lies precisely in its historic origin and its powerful old-rose fragrance.
The cultivar’s reference temperature is −23 °C (USDA zone 6b–9b). Overwintering depends on the conditions.
Repeat-flowering in flushes (summer – autumn); the second flush is weaker.
120–150 cm tall, about 90 cm wide.
Overall resistance: 3 out of 5. Typical of old varieties; susceptible to powdery mildew.
Partial shade; morning sun and shade at midday – so the colour does not fade.
Strong – a rich old-rose fragrance, the variety's main attraction.
