SAMMETGLUT® – dark red bedding Floribunda rose – Kordes
Step out after rain and meet the deep, velvety glow of SAMMETGLUT®, a bushy Floribunda that brings warm, spicy fragrance and generous clusters of large double blooms to compact London front gardens and relaxed family plots, even where wind and wet weather challenge less robust roses in exposed, clay-based settings. Its upright, medium-height structure forms a natural backdrop to perennials and grasses, while own-root resilience supports a long-lived garden presence that recovers well from pruning and the odd lapse in care. Plant once and enjoy a steady rhythm of repeat flowering from early summer, with self-cleaning blooms that minimise deadheading and keep beds looking orderly. In its first seasons SAMMETGLUT® focuses on roots, then pushes stronger shoots, before settling into full ornamental impact by around the third year, giving you time to shape a low-fuss, sustainable front garden character.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden feature shrub |
The bushy, upright habit and medium height create a natural focal point that fits neatly into typical terraced-house front gardens without overwhelming the space, delivering a strong visual structure with minimal shaping for busy urban gardeners. |
| Long-season flowerbed colour |
Clusters of large, double blooms repeat reliably through the season, moving from velvety dark red to warm scarlet and brick tones, so a single planting extends interest over many weeks with little need for constant attention for time-poor homeowners. |
| Low-maintenance mixed border |
Good self-cleaning means most spent blooms drop on their own, helping the plant stay tidy in family borders where regular deadheading is unlikely, maintaining an orderly look alongside catmint, sage or lavender for practical beginner gardeners. |
| Resilient urban planting in exposed spots |
Its robust build and tolerance of heat and moderate drought suit small, windswept or rain-battered front gardens, especially where heavier soils can stay wet after downpours, supporting reliable performance despite challenging microclimates for city-based gardeners. |
| Informal flowering hedge |
Planted at hedge spacing, the upright framework and moderate thorniness form a dense, season-long red ribbon that marks boundaries while remaining manageable in height, offering privacy and colour without specialist training skills for family-garden owners. |
| Own-root, long-lived planting scheme |
The own-root form develops a stable framework that responds well to pruning, comes back evenly if cut hard, and avoids graft-related problems, giving a dependable, slowly maturing rose that keeps its character over many years for long-term planners. |
| Large container on patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot with good drainage, its upright habit and repeating clusters create a compact, fiery presence near seating areas, where the warm, spicy scent can be enjoyed close up with straightforward seasonal care for balcony and patio users. |
| Autumn interest with ornamental hips |
After flowering, small spherical orange-red hips appear in modest numbers, adding a subtle late-season highlight that extends garden interest past peak bloom without extra maintenance, blending well into wildlife-friendly, naturalistic planting for sustainability-minded gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Velvet-Threshold – Line a narrow front path with SAMMETGLUT® and low lavender for a soft, fragrant “entry corridor” that flowers through summer – ideal for townhouses wanting impact from the pavement.
- Crimson-Canvas – Use a trio of shrubs as a dark red backdrop, underplant with Nepeta and silver foliage for contrast – suitable for those shaping a cohesive, easy-care front bed.
- Brick-Harmony – Pair the warm, shifting reds with terracotta pots and clay pavers, echoing London brick tones – perfect for homeowners unifying building and planting without complex design work.
- Rain-Garden-Ridge – Position a loose hedge of SAMMETGLUT® along a slight rain run-off, with moisture-tolerant perennials in front – good for urban gardeners managing downspouts and heavier soils.
- Evening-Seat – Place a single plant near a bench or balcony rail in a large container, where its scent and colour can be enjoyed up close – suited to smaller spaces prioritising sensory relaxation.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bed rose, registered as Scharlachglut, marketed as SAMMETGLUT® Bedding rose Scharlachglut; ARS exhibition name Scharlachglut; part of the Bedding rose collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm J. H. Kordes II in Germany from ‘Poinsettia’ × ‘Alika’; breeding completed 1943, introduced 1952 by W. Kordes’ Söhne, remains an unregistered but well-established cultivar. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub reaching about 110–150 cm high and 85–115 cm wide, with moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate prickliness, forming a solid yet manageable framework. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, cup-shaped, double flowers with 26–39 petals, borne mainly in clusters; remontant with a profuse second flush, providing generous summer coverage that repeats after the first main flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark red blooms, ARS DRR, RHS 53A outer and 60A inner petals; opens velvety dark red, warms to scarlet–orange-red, then dulls to matt brick red as flowers mature and finally fade on the plant. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Noticeable, medium-strength scent with a warm, spicy character; best appreciated near paths, seating areas or doors where air movement and proximity highlight the perfume during peak blooming. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces small numbers of spherical hips, 8–12 mm across, in a clear orange-red shade; adds discreet autumn interest, suitable where subtle seasonal extension is preferred over heavy fruiting. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish Zone 4); medium resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, with good heat and moderate drought tolerance when watered in dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Use as specimen, hedge, bed or park rose; tolerates partial shade. For mass planting space around 100 cm, hedging 90 cm, solitary 170 cm; in containers choose 40–50 litres minimum with reliable drainage. |
SAMMETGLUT® offers season-long red colour, a warm spicy scent and a resilient own-root structure that matures steadily into a long-lived feature, making it a thoughtful choice for compact, low-fuss gardens.
