Cardinal de Richelieu

The Rosier Cardinal de Richelieu: a rose with exceptional color and fragrance

The Rosier Cardinal de Richelieu, also known as the Rosier Van Sian because of its sometimes blue-tinted roses, is an old shrub rose.
A rose of character, as was Cardinal Richelieu, after whom it is named, its crimson red color symbolizes power. At the time, this color was reserved for cardinals and bishops: purple is a dark red dye (tending towards violet, which the ancients extracted from the anal gland of a murex) used to dye fabrics reserved for the most powerful people. This color became a symbol of sovereign dignity.

This shrub is one of the oldest rosebushes, having been created before 1847. It is one of the Gallic roses (or Rosa Gallica), like the Charles de Mills rose.
This ancient rose, which is almost inert (i.e. almost without thorns or prickles), has a very powerful fragrance, with powdery, peppery notes, which will spread throughout your garden. Its fragrance lasts a long time, which is why it's so popular in cosmetics and in dried flower blends for potpourri.

The Cardinal de Richelieu rosebush is ovoid in shape and medium-sized (130 cm when fully grown). Non-remontant, it blooms in June-July, producing a profusion of full, double flowers with interlocking petals. Purplish-purple at first, the flowers fade to parma as they open.

Where to plant the Cardinal de Richelieu rose?

This old gallic rose thrives in semi-shade, in cool soil rich in organic matter. It can withstand cold temperatures down to -15°C.

It is ideally planted in beds. Its smooth, dark-green foliage is shaded with brown. It can be combined with other flowering shrubs, whose blooming period is staggered compared with Cardinal de Richelieu.

As it's a non-remontant variety, you'll need to prune the Cardinal de Richelieu after it flowers, in summer.