Large, very deep red flowers, almost black when they first open, with yellow stamens. On the mature flower, the edges of the tepals and the bar are slightly darker than the rest. Robin Savill notes that "according to Greek mythology, Niobe wept for slain children until she was turned to stone". If hard pruned (as a Group 3), the early flowers are lost. 'Niobe' was awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Group:	Early large-flowered group
Approximate height:	2.5 - 3.0 metres
Flowering period(s):	May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Aspect:	Sun or semi-shade
USDA zones:	4 5 6 7 8 9
Pruning:	Light prune (Group 2)
Raised by:	Wladyslaw Noll
Country of origin:	Poland
Date raised:	rc1970 i1975
Parentage:	Unknown
Other name(s):	None known
Further detail:  Flower diameter: 10-15cm Tepals: 4-6 (-8); 5-8.5cm long, 3-3.8cm wide, elliptic, pointed, partly overlapping Database entry: 27