About the name
Name. 'Reine des Violettes' = 'Queen of the Violets'. For its unique violet-mauve colour, rare among roses (most 'purple' varieties are actually lilac or lavender). A poetic French name from the Old Garden Roses XIX-century tradition. Synonym 'Queen of the Violets' in English-language catalogues.
Breeding. Bred by Mille-Mallet (France) in 1860. Parentage: a seedling of 'Pius IX' (Vibert 1849) — Pius IX was the Pope (1846–1878). Classification: Hybrid Perpetual — one of the leading groups of XIX-century old roses (the precursors of modern HTs). The entry replaced 'Red Piano' in the catalogue: Red Piano turned out to be a marketing synonym of Piano (TAN01360, Tantau 2007), a duplicate of an existing Piano-entry.
Significance. One of the most fragrant old garden roses — a classic rich damask scent that shaped the whole of modern rose perfumery. A legendary variety, essential in every old-rose collection — recommended by most Old Garden Roses societies (Heritage Rose Foundation). Exceptional USDA 4–9 hardiness — ideal for all of Ukraine without protection, rare among Old Garden Roses. The 'Pewter' fading from violet to lilac / grey-pink is a distinctive feature, valued by florists for 'vintage' bouquets. 165 years of legendary status — one of the few XIX-century varieties that remains popular today. NOT in the WFRS Old Rose Hall of Fame (the Old Rose HoF list has only 5 varieties — Cécile Brünner, Gloire de Dijon, Gruss an Teplitz, Old Blush, Souvenir de la Malmaison) — a common myth in secondary catalogues.