SALAMMBO – dark red climbing rose – Delbard
Let Salammbo bring a romantic, storybook arbour feel to an ordinary family garden, its velvety dark-red blooms transforming a simple arch, pergola or fence into a cosy backdrop for afternoon tea. This own-root climber is bred for longevity, building a strong base that shrugs off typical UK breezes and feels reassuringly secure even in gardens where frequent winds and showers sweep in from the coast. Over time, its dense, glossy mid-green foliage fills out to create a soft screen of colour and privacy without demanding complicated pruning regimes. In a large container of at least 50 litres, or in improved clay beds with good drainage, it settles in steadily – roots first, then stronger shoots, before reaching full ornamental value as a mature, arching climber. With semi-double, medium-sized flowers that are easy to deadhead, maintenance stays manual rather than technical, so You can enjoy the view rather than worry about it.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Rose arch at the garden entrance |
Its tall, climbing habit and medium spread make it ideal for training over a rose arch, creating an immediate sense of arrival and cottage-garden romance without needing complicated shaping; perfect for the homeowner. |
| Pergola above a seating area |
Dense, glossy foliage and repeat flowering provide a soft overhead canopy, giving light shade and a cosy tea-time atmosphere while remaining manageable with straightforward tying-in and occasional deadheading; suited to the busy-gardener. |
| Climbing accent on a sunny house wall |
This variety prefers sun, and its deep red colour holds well, offering a dramatic vertical accent against brick or render, with moderate maintenance and no need for expert pruning techniques; ideal for the townhouse-owner. |
| Screening along a family garden fence |
Its 2–3,2 m height and 1,2–2 m spread allow it to clothe a fence with foliage and flowers, providing privacy and a traditional look while remaining easier to manage than very vigorous ramblers; reassuring for the family-buyer. |
| Feature rose in a large container |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot with support, it offers vertical interest on patios or small terraces, with moderate growth that is simple to tie in and keep tidy, well matched to the small-garden owner. |
| Romantic focal point in cottage borders |
The velvety dark-red flowers pair beautifully with soft perennials and kitchen-garden planting, giving a classic cottage feel while its semi-double blooms allow easy deadheading and shaping by hand; appealing to the cottage-lover. |
| Long-term garden structure and investment |
As an own-root climber, it builds strength from below, regrowing reliably from the base after hard pruning or weather damage, offering a long-lived, adaptable garden framework for the conscious-gardener. |
| Coastal and exposed family plots |
Well-anchored canes, dense foliage and a securely rooting own-root system make it a dependable choice where frequent winds and showers sweep in from the coast, provided soil is improved for drainage, making life easier for the coastal-gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Tea-arch welcome – Train Salammbo over a simple metal arch with underplanting of evergreen candytuft for year-round structure – ideal for those wanting a romantic entrance to a family garden.
- Pergola parlour – Cover a timber pergola with this dark-red climber and edge the posts with low lobelia to soften the base – suited to homeowners creating an outdoor sitting-room feel.
- Cottage kitchen walk – Run Salammbo along a fence beside herbs and vegetables, echoing its rich red with Liatris ‘Kobold’ – perfect for fans of traditional rural kitchen gardens.
- Patio pillar rose – Grow one plant in a 50-litre pot with a sturdy obelisk, pairing with terracotta containers of lavender for contrast – great for busy urban gardeners wanting vertical colour.
- Storybook screen – Use several plants at hedge spacing to form a flowering screen behind a lawn, underplanted with white bedding for contrast – for families who like a soft, private backdrop.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Salammbo – dark red climbing rose (DELperl), large-flowered climber from the Delbard breeding programme; registered as DELperl and recognised in exhibitions under the name Salammbo. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Georges Delbard in France (1990) from ‘Messire Delbard’ × (‘Rouge Meilland’ × ‘Soraya’); introduced by Delbard / Georges Delbard SA in 1994 as a garden climbing rose. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing growth habit, around 2,0–3,2 m high and 1,2–2,0 m wide, with fairly dense, glossy mid-green foliage and moderate prickliness; self-cleaning is only partial, so deadheading is helpful. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, medium-sized cup-shaped blooms (about 4–7 cm), usually solitary on the stems, with roughly 13–25 petals; remontant, with a lighter second flush after the main early-summer flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Velvety dark red with a slight purple undertone; buds nearly black-red, flowers open vivid blood-red then deepen to ruby tones, with colour holding reasonably well and only modest fading in strong sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance is very weak and barely perceptible in normal garden conditions, so it is chosen more for its visual impact and colour effect than for scent-driven planting schemes or aromatic collections. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips form rarely; when present they are dark red (RHS 40A), ellipsoid, around 10–14 mm, and not generally a major ornamental feature compared with the display from repeat flowering. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, roughly USDA 6b), with moderate susceptibility to black spot, mildew and rust, so basic monitoring and occasional protective treatments may be required. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on sunny sites for walls, pergolas, arches and fences; plant roughly 1,4–1,5 m apart for hedging or massing, with 2,5 m for specimens, and ensure soil has good drainage, especially on heavy clay. |
SALAMMBO – dark red climbing rose – Delbard offers romantic vertical colour, reliable structure and long-term own-root resilience for arches and pergolas; a thoughtful choice if You would like a lasting focal point in your garden.
