BORDEAUX® – burgundy bedding floribunda rose - Kordes
Bring a touch of storybook romance to an everyday family garden with BORDEAUX®, a compact, upright floribunda whose rich wine-red blooms slowly mellow to softer magenta shades, creating a long, glowing display from early summer well into autumn. This bushy, glossy-foliaged rose is bred for outstanding disease resistance, so routine care stays pleasantly simple rather than a weekend-long chore, even in damper areas with higher fungal pressure and brisk winds. Planted as an own-root shrub in beds, low hedges or generous containers, it forms a durable framework that reshoots reliably after pruning and ages gracefully, giving you dependable colour year after year. Over time it knits into cottage-style borders and kitchen-garden edges with minimal fuss, its rounded habit easy to fit into small and medium spaces where tidy structure really matters. In a well-prepared spot with reasonable drainage, it takes up its place quickly, steadily strengthening and rewarding you with more flowering stems each season as roots, shoots and overall presence quietly mature. The pleasantly fruity, gentle fragrance adds a discreet finishing touch around seating areas and arbours without overwhelming close-up afternoon tea beneath the roses.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front or mid border in a small family garden |
Its compact, upright, bushy habit and 70–100 cm height make BORDEAUX® ideal for front or mid-border positions, giving structure without swamping nearby plants, while the glossy dark foliage keeps the bed looking neat between flushes – a calm choice for beginners. |
| Cottage-style bedding and kitchen-garden edging |
Freely repeating, wine-red clusters create a classic cottage look along vegetable beds and path edges, with flowers returning reliably through the season so borders never feel bare; the own-root plant builds up gradually into a long-lived edging line valued by traditionalists. |
| Low flowering hedge along paths or driveways |
Recommended hedge planting distances allow BORDEAUX® to knit into a continuous, waist-high band of colour and glossy foliage, while its hardy, own-root framework copes well with trimming and naturally regenerates if cut back, reassuring cautious homeowners. |
| Statement planting in large containers (40–50 litres or more) |
In a generous 40–50 litre pot, its moderate height and bushiness suit patios and roof terraces, producing a dense crown of blooms without becoming top-heavy; choosing an own-root plant reduces long-term repotting worries for time-pressed city-dwellers. |
| Family seating area or arbour surroundings |
The mild, fruity scent and medium-sized double blooms are best appreciated at close range around benches or arbours, where repeat flowering prolongs the season; an own-root BORDEAUX® settles steadily, giving a reassuring, year-on-year presence valued by families. |
| Low-maintenance rose bed in wetter or exposed gardens |
Bred with strong resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, BORDEAUX® keeps its dark, glossy foliage even where summers are humid or blustery, reducing spraying and nursing; dependable health and tidy self-cleaning suit practically minded gardeners. |
| Mixed border with perennials and shrubs |
The rich burgundy flowers ageing to magenta sit beautifully among soft pinks, creams and blues, and the upright form slots easily between perennials without demanding complex pruning; over three seasons it develops from roots to shoots to full effect for patient planners. |
| Cut-flower corner for informal home arrangements |
Medium-large, double, cupped blooms on clustered stems lend themselves to short-stemmed jug and vase arrangements, with repeat flushes providing regular picking material through summer, offering simple creative pleasure for home-arranging enthusiasts. |
Styling ideas
- Kitchen-border ribbon – Plant BORDEAUX® in a loose row along kitchen-garden paths, underplant with chives and low thyme to echo its wine-red tones – ideal for cottage-leaning cooks and growers.
- Tea-corner focus – Use one or three plants near a bistro set, combining with soft pink geraniums and lavender for scent and contrast – suited to relaxed afternoon tea lovers.
- Burgundy accent pot – In a 50-litre terracotta container, pair BORDEAUX® with trailing ivy and pale violas to highlight its deep blooms – perfect for balcony or patio stylists.
- Romantic hedgelet – Create a low hedge beside a path, weaving in white catmint or soft grasses to lighten the strong colour – attractive for families wanting gentle structure.
- Evening glow mix – Dot BORDEAUX® through a bed of cream roses, blue salvias and silvery foliage so the dark flowers catch the last light – appealing to fans of atmospheric twilights.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bed rose, registered as KORelamba, marketed as BORDEAUX® Bedding rose KORelamba; recognised by the American Rose Society under the exhibition name Bordeaux. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in Germany by Tim-Hermann Kordes (W. Kordes’ Söhne) around 2004, introduced 2014–2015; parentage officially unknown but selected for garden bedding and exhibition use. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated floribunda: gold medal Rome 2013, silver medals Geneva and Kortrijk 2013, Journalist Award Monza 2015, silver medal Glasgow 2017, Australian National Trial gold 2017. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy shrub reaching about 70–100 cm in height and 45–65 cm spread, with dense, dark green, glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; medium self-cleaning of spent blooms. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, cupped flowers with roughly 26–39 petals, medium to large (about 7–10 cm), produced in clusters; remontant, with abundant repeat flowering throughout the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep wine-red to burgundy (RHS 53A–53B, ARS MR); buds are dark and velvety, opening rich ruby, then gradually lightening toward magenta and fuchsia-purple tones, especially in strong sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild yet pleasant fruity perfume, best appreciated at close range in still air; fragrance is present but not overpowering, making it suitable near seating or windows in family gardens. |
| Hip characteristics |
Limited hip formation due to double flowers; when present, hips are small globular spheres about 10–14 mm across, coloured dark red (RHS 45A), adding discreet late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Generally very healthy foliage with high resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; winter-hardy to around −23 to −21 °C (RHS H7, USDA zone 6a, Swedish zone 3) in normal conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers full sun and well-drained soil; spacing varies from 30–55 cm depending on hedging or solitary use; suitable for beds, borders, parks, containers and small-scale cutting for the home. |
BORDEAUX® – burgundy bedding floribunda rose - Kordes offers rich repeat flowering, robust disease resistance and a compact, long-lived own-root habit, making it a thoughtful, enduring choice for your next planting decision.
