PERLA NEGRA – dark red hybrid tea rose - Delbard
With its uniquely dark, velvety blooms, Perla Negra brings instant theatre to small beds, front gardens and classic cottage-style borders. This bushy, upright hybrid tea offers reliable structure in an average-sized family garden, while its excellent colour retention keeps each flower looking freshly opened for longer. The plant forms a stable, enduring framework on its own roots for long-term confidence and easy regeneration after pruning or weather damage. Well suited to typical British conditions, it copes reassuringly with breezy, coastal situations when planted in a reasonably sheltered spot. Medium maintenance needs focus mainly on simple deadheading, giving you elegant cut flowers and a neat appearance without complex expertise. In the first year it invests in roots, the second year in generous shoot growth, and by the third year it reveals its full ornamental character and depth of colour. Perfect for pairing with soft perennials, it contributes a strong focal accent in mixed borders, yet remains compact enough for generous containers of 40–50 litres. Whether you are refining an established planting or starting your first rose bed, Perla Negra combines traditional charm with modern reliability in everyday garden use.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden focal point |
The compact, bushy, upright habit and large, high-centred flowers make Perla Negra ideal as a single statement rose by a path, gate or entrance. Its dependable repeat flowering gives ongoing interest with minimal tasks for the beginner. |
| Small rose bed or mixed border |
At 85–115 cm tall with a 50–70 cm spread, it fits neatly into modest beds, providing strong structure without overpowering nearby shrubs or perennials. Medium care needs suit busy gardeners seeking impact without complex routines for the homeowner. |
| Cottage-style planting with perennials |
The deep, velvety dark red flowers contrast beautifully with soft yellows, blues and creams, echoing traditional cottage borders. Consistent colour and form anchor looser companions, helping create a composed, romantic look for the stylist. |
| Cutting garden and home arrangements |
The high-centred, exhibition-style blooms on long, straight stems are excellent for cutting, allowing you to enjoy their richness indoors. Regular cutting doubles as deadheading, keeping the bush tidy and productive for the enthusiast. |
| Medium to large containers (40–50 L+) |
Own-root growth and a compact footprint allow reliable performance in substantial pots of 40–50 litres or more, where soil volume and watering can be managed easily. This offers flexible placement on patios and small terraces for the urbanite. |
| Feature group of 3–5 plants |
Planted at 60 cm spacing, a small group creates a dense, repeat-flowering block of velvety colour that reads clearly from the street or house. Own-root durability provides a long-lived, coherent display for the planner. |
| Partially shaded garden corners |
Suitable for partial shade, it will still develop rich colouring and reliable flowering where full sun is limited, such as east- or west-facing aspects. This flexibility helps make the most of difficult spots for the problem-solver. |
| Exposed, breezy plots |
The upright, moderately thorny framework anchors well in the soil, and with good planting and staking it copes steadily with blustery, rain-laden conditions typical of many British gardens, even in mildly coastal air, reassuring the improver. |
Styling ideas
- COTTAGE CLASSIC – Combine Perla Negra with yellow yarrow and blue verbena for a soft, romantic border where its compact structure anchors looser perennials – ideal for lovers of traditional cottage gardens.
- FRONT-DOOR WELCOME – Plant a single bush by the path with low lavender or nepeta edging so the upright form and repeat bloom create a calm, orderly entrance – suited to tidy, low-maintenance front gardens.
- VELVET DRAMA – Group 3 plants at 60 cm spacing in a small bed, underplanted with pale groundcovers, to produce a solid block of dark red colour – perfect for design-conscious homeowners seeking strong evening impact.
- PATIO SHOWPIECE – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre container with fine-textured companions like airy grasses, letting the structured habit and long-season flowering define the display – attractive for balcony and terrace gardeners.
- HERITAGE CUTTING CORNER – Dedicate a narrow strip near the house to Perla Negra for cutting stems, backed by simple evergreen shrubs so the elegant flower form stands out – appealing to home decorators who enjoy arranging their own blooms.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as DELurt, marketed as Perla Negra / Perle Noire; exhibition hybrid tea type used both in gardens and for high-quality cut flowers. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard, Roseraies Georges Delbard, France, from complex hybrid tea parentage including ‘Impeccable’, ‘Papa Meilland’ and others; introduced and registered in 1976. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub 85–115 cm high and 50–70 cm wide, with moderately dense, matte dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; generally forms a tidy, well-defined bush. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, fully double blooms with 26–39 petals, high-centred and pointed in classic cut-rose style; mainly solitary flowers on stems, with strong remontant repeat bloom through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep, velvety dark red tending toward black; colour holds excellently in sun, fading slowly to muted mauve while remaining rich; buds appear almost black, opening to uniformly burgundy-red blooms. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very weak fragrance with a light, rosy character; scent is barely noticeable in the garden or vase, so plant is chosen primarily for visual effect rather than perfume. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is limited due to the very double flowers; where formed, small 10–14 mm ellipsoid orange-red hips may appear sporadically, with little ornamental impact in most seasons. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); good heat tolerance with watering in drought; black spot resistant, with moderate sensitivity to powdery mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best as bed, specimen or container rose at 50–90 cm spacing; medium maintenance with regular deadheading and occasional plant protection; suitable for partial shade and average UK garden conditions. |
Perla Negra Hybrid tea rose DELurt offers compact structure, long-season repeat flowering and dependable own-root longevity, making it a thoughtful choice for understated yet enduring garden colour.
