Rosa Astrid Grafin von Hardenberg

The 'Astrid Gräfin von Hardenberg' Rose, marketed in English-speaking countries under the rather prosaic name of 'Black Caviar', also bears the evocative name of 'Nuit de Chine', reserved for the European market. Voluptuous, in two tones of velvety red, its roses are structured in the old-fashioned way, with tightly packed quarters, heavy with petals that carry a powerful scent of dark rose with peppery notes. They bloom in sumptuous bouquets, relentlessly from June to October, on a well-branched, robust and hardy bush, whose disease resistance is commendable.

The 'Astrid Gräfin von Hardenberg' rose, from the Nostalgie series, belongs to the group of modern tea hybrids, which means that it is the result of a cross between a floribunda rose, with clustered flowers, and an "old-fashioned" hybrid tea rose. These two categories of roses have passed on their unique qualities to their offspring. It is a creation of the German rose breeder Rosen Tantau, dating back to 2001. This remarkably fragrant variety received the gold medal for the most fragrant rose in Rome in 2002.

This is a vigorous shrub with a bushy and upright habit, which reaches a height of about 1.30 m (4ft) and a spread of 90 cm (35in) at maturity in just a few years. It produces strong, thorny and well-branched stems, which bear very elegant foliage, purple and shiny when budding, then dark green and disease-resistant if the growing conditions are adequate. The stems can retain some leaves long after the first frost, giving it semi-evergreen foliage. Throughout the summer and into late season, if faded flowers are removed, the plant continuously produces beautiful 10 cm (4in) diameter flowers, well doubled, composed of over 40 petals arranged in quarters. Their slightly turbinate and quite free form somewhat resembles that of old roses. They have a velvety burgundy red colour on the periphery, and open up to a tight heart of a lighter colour, in carmine red. Gathered in small bouquets, they bloom at the end of long shoots from the current year or emerge on 2-year-old stems.

'Nuit de Chine' is simply an enchanting rose that speaks to all our senses. Showcase it as a standalone or planted in groups of 3 subjects not far from the house or near the terrace, even in a small garden, to enjoy its exceptional fragrance. It adapts to all our regions, as long as we take care of it. It is incomparable for giving a theatrical touch to flower beds, and its classic flowers go well with more pastel roses, in shades of mauve like those of 'Blue Girl', 'Sissi' or the white corollas of the English rose 'Winchester Cathedral'. It is an ideal companion for flowering shrubs (mock oranges, lilacs, hibiscus) and perennials such as bellflowers, catmints and foxgloves, to which it adds a fascinating charm. And then its flowers, animated by a burning passion, make bouquets worthy of being offered to a loved one.