A dark crimson rose, with rather loosely formed flowers that open wide and hang elegantly. They have a special character of their own, reminiscent of the flowers of tree peonies, as sometimes depicted on fabrics and wallpapers. There is a light Old Rose fragrance. ‘The Dark Lady’ forms a shapely, bushy shrub with spreading growth. It is small at first but over time becomes quite large, reaching a medium height. It bears attractive, large, dark green leaves which are rough in texture, resembling those of its Rosa rugosa parentage. It is particularly happy in warmer, Mediterranean-type climates.