SAMMETGLUT® – dark red bedding Floribunda rose – Kordes
With its smouldering, velvety red blooms and bushy, upright habit, SAMMETGLUT® brings a classic, structured presence to family gardens while remaining reassuringly easy to live with. Large, double flowers appear in generous clusters, giving a long season of colour in beds and borders without demanding complicated pruning or specialist care. As an own-root plant, it settles in steadily and offers reliable longevity, rebuilding from the base if ever cut back hard and forming a stable, well-shaped shrub over time. The development from strong roots in the first year to fuller shoots in the second and a convincing ornamental display by the third year makes planning straightforward, especially where you face heavier soils and want dependable anchoring in blustery, wet weather. Heat- and drought-tolerant once established, it copes well with typical British summers, rewarding regular but simple care with a profusion of blooms and a warm, spicy fragrance that suits both front gardens and relaxed cottage-style schemes.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden feature shrub |
The bushy, upright growth and XL clustered blooms create strong street-facing impact from a single plant, without the need for elaborate shaping. Own-root structure supports long-term reliability, ideal where you want a “plant it and it works” presence by the front path for the busy homeowner. |
| Small group in bedding schemes |
Planting 3–5 roses together at the recommended spacing produces a low, even canopy of dark red colour that reads as a single, coherent block. The self-cleaning flowers reduce deadheading, so the planting stays tidy with limited intervention, suiting the aesthetics-focused beginner. |
| Mixed cottage border with perennials |
The strong colour holds its own among cottage plants like Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ and deep red scabious, while the moderately dense foliage fills gaps between perennials. Medium maintenance needs and reliable regrowth from the base keep the structure intact for years, supporting the design-conscious gardener. |
| Informal flowering hedge |
At 90 cm spacing, its upright, branching habit knits into a low hedge that flowers along the length of a drive or garden boundary. The own-root form helps the hedge recover evenly after pruning, preserving a consistent line of shrubs for the long-term planner. |
| Sunny urban courtyard bed |
Good heat and moderate drought tolerance mean it copes well in sun-trapped, paved spaces where watering may be occasional rather than meticulous. The warm, spicy scent adds another layer of enjoyment near seating areas, suiting the time-poor city dweller. |
| Raised bed on heavier or clay soils |
In raised beds or improved soil, the robust own-root system establishes steadily and anchors the shrub well, helpful where wet, compacted ground and gusty conditions can challenge roses, offering reassuring stability for the practical homeowner. |
| Large container on patio or terrace |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container, one plant forms a substantial flowering bush that can be moved or repositioned as the garden layout evolves. Straightforward seasonal pruning and medium maintenance keep it manageable for the flexible space user. |
| Low-maintenance specimen in small lawn |
As a solitary shrub at its wider spacing, the rounded outline and continuous flowering provide a clear focal point with only moderate pest and disease checks needed. The gradual build-up from Year 1 to a full Year 3 display rewards patient, undemanding care from the casual hobby gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Glow – Underplant SAMMETGLUT® with lavender and soft pink geraniums to soften its dark red blooms and echo traditional cottage borders – ideal for lovers of classic front gardens.
- Crimson Ribbon – Line a path with a short run of evenly spaced shrubs to form a loose, flowering hedge that guides the eye to your doorway – perfect for homeowners wanting simple structure.
- Patio Statement – Grow a single plant in a 50 litre terracotta pot with trailing thyme at the base, creating a scented focal point beside seating – suited to balcony and terrace gardeners.
- Warm Contrast – Combine with Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ and dark-leaved perennials for a fiery, late-summer palette that needs only light pruning and tidying – good for busy colour enthusiasts.
- Park-Style Corner – Group three plants in a triangle in a lawn or open bed to mimic small park plantings, offering strong form and colour with modest upkeep – appealing to beginners seeking impact.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda shrub rose; registered as Scharlachglut, marketed as SAMMETGLUT® dark red bedding Floribunda rose; exhibition name Scharlachglut. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm J. H. Kordes II in Germany from ‘Poinsettia’ × ‘Alika’; breeding completed 1943, introduced by W. Kordes’ Söhne in 1952. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub 110–150 cm tall and 85–115 cm wide, moderately thorny, with moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage that provides a solid background for flowering. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals in clustered inflorescences; remontant, with a notable second flush that maintains ornamental value across the summer season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark red with slight sheen; RHS 53A outer, 60A inner; opens velvety dark red, warms to scarlet, then brick red as it ages, giving nuanced colour shifts over the life of each cluster. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, warm, spicy scent noticeable at close range around the shrub; fragrance adds sensory depth in seating areas or along frequently used paths and entrances. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces small numbers of spherical hips, 8–12 mm in diameter, maturing to orange-red and providing modest late-season ornamental interest once the main flowering display has eased. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b); tolerates heat and moderate drought with watering in long dry spells; medium resistance to black spot, mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sun to light shade; medium maintenance with occasional pest and disease checks; spacing 90–170 cm depending on hedge or specimen use, with 1–1.2 plants per m² in mass plantings. |
SAMMETGLUT® offers rich dark red clusters, a bushy long-lived shrub form and manageable care on its own roots, making it a thoughtful choice when you want lasting colour with straightforward planting.
