Website/Catalog  (2014)  Includes photo(s).
 
‘Niobe’ One of the most popular varieties. Large, velvet, very deep red flowers, on the beginning near black,  with yellow anthers. Just after opening blooms appear almost black. Very free-flowering June and August - September. Growing to up 2 m high. Any position. Excellent for growing over fences, walls, arbors, pergolas, trellises and wooden supports. It can clamber over natural supports e.g. deciduous and coniferous bushes and dwarf shrubs. Suitable for cultivation in containers.
Named for a woman in Greek mythology whom Zeus turned into a rock, and whose children were killed by deities.

Book  (Oct 2001)  Page(s) 298-299.  Includes photo(s).

Book  (1999)  Page(s) 237.  
 
...deep ruby red, almost black color, changes to bright ruby...

Website/Catalog  (1990)  Page(s) Spring issue, p. 43.  
 
Niobe : rouge carmin.