FREIHEITSGLOCKE® – pink Hybrid Tea rose – Kordes
Create a corner for afternoon tea with FREIHEITSGLOCKE®, a hybrid tea rose whose high‑centred blooms bring a quietly romantic, storybook atmosphere to small and medium family gardens. The long, elegant stems and generous, repeat-flowering display make it equally at home in cottage borders and as a favourite cut flower by the back door. Bred by Kordes in 1963, this own‑root plant is selected for reliable health, coping steadily even where wind, rain and heavy soils can challenge fussier roses. Its upright habit fits narrow beds, paths and kitchen‑garden edges, while the medium tea fragrance adds gentle romance without overwhelming seating areas. Planted as a 2‑litre, half‑ to one‑year‑old own‑root bush, it settles quickly, building a strong, lasting framework for decades of enjoyment. Over time you can expect roots to establish first, then shoots to build up, and by the third season the full ornamental impact becomes part of your everyday garden routine.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Main rose bed in a family garden |
The upright growth and 80–110 cm height give a clear, structured presence without dominating a typical family border, while repeat flowering ensures colour through the main season with only light deadheading – attractive for busy homeowners. |
| Romantic cottage‑style mixed border |
The cyclamen‑pink, high‑centred blooms read beautifully among herbaceous perennials, adding classic hybrid tea form to a soft, “girly” cottage palette, yet the plant itself remains low‑maintenance and disease‑resistant – appealing to cottage‑garden lovers. |
| Cutting patch by the kitchen garden |
Long, straight stems with solitary, exhibition‑type flowers make this an excellent choice for jug and vase arrangements, letting you pick frequently without weakening the plant, thanks to resilient own‑root growth – ideal for home flower arrangers. |
| Small front garden or narrow side border |
The compact spread of 50–70 cm and vertical habit work well in tighter spaces, giving a smart, traditional look against paths, drives or fences, while moderate height keeps views from windows open – suited to urban garden owners. |
| Feature rose near seating or arbour |
A medium tea fragrance and elegant flower form provide a refined focus beside benches, arbours or patios for afternoon tea, without overpowering the area, and the steady health keeps foliage neat around leisure spaces – perfect for garden relaxers. |
| Low‑maintenance family planting scheme |
Good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, combined with modest pruning needs, mean fewer treatment routines and easy annual care; own‑root plants age gracefully, regenerating from the base and extending the rose’s useful life – reassuring for beginner gardeners. |
| Roses in heavier clay or exposed plots |
Once planted into improved soil or raised beds, the strong, own‑root framework anchors the bush securely and copes dependably where wetter, heavier conditions and coastal breezes might trouble grafted roses, allowing for stable colour displays – valued by challenging‑site gardeners. |
| Large container on terrace or balcony |
In a substantial container of at least 40–50 litres with regular watering, its upright habit and repeat flowering create a classic potted rose for small spaces; own‑root resilience helps it recover well if growth is checked or pruned harder – convenient for container gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Tea‑Time Border – Line a sunny path to the patio with FREIHEITSGLOCKE® spaced at 60–70 cm, underplanted with soft nepeta and lady’s mantle for a romantic walk to afternoon tea – ideal for families who enjoy relaxed entertaining.
- Cottage Ribbon – Thread individual bushes through a mixed cottage bed of foxgloves, hardy geraniums and campanulas, where the upright habit adds structure among looser perennials – suited to lovers of storybook, “girly” gardens.
- Kitchen Jug Patch – Dedicate a small cutting strip near the kitchen garden with rows of this rose between herbs and salad crops, providing fragrant stems for jugs without depleting border displays – perfect for home bakers and hosts.
- Front‑Door Welcome – Place one plant in a generous half‑barrel container (40–50 litres) each side of a front step, combining with trailing ivy and seasonal bedding for a smart, traditional entrance – appealing to busy urban homeowners.
- Arbour Retreat – Plant a pair near the entrance to a wooden arbour, weaving in light climbers or clematis while this rose marks the doorway with formal blooms and scent – made for those creating a quiet reading corner.
Technical cultivar profile
| Trait |
Data |
| Name and registration |
FREIHEITSGLOCKE® (trade name), Hybrid Tea; exhibition name ‘Liberty Bell’. Commercially offered as a hybrid tea rose for garden and cutting use; unregistered cultivar in formal registries. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, from ‘Detroiter’ × ‘Perfecta’. Introduced in 1963 and supplied here as an own‑root selection suitable for private gardens and hobby growers. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright shrub reaching about 80–110 cm high and 50–70 cm wide, with moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; forms a balanced, bushy framework over time. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double blooms with 26–39 petals, high‑centred and pointed in classic cut‑rose style. Flowers are mainly borne singly on long stems, remontant, giving a generous second flush after the early summer display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Overall vivid cyclamen‑pink, ARS code DR; RHS 53A outer, 60B inner. Buds open fuchsia‑carmine, then soften to pale pinkish‑creamy centres, finishing in raspberry‑rosy tones before petals drop or require deadheading. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Moderate, pleasantly noticeable tea scent, especially near seating height and in still evening air. Cut stems retain a gentle, classic rose fragrance indoors, complementing their formal, exhibition‑style flower form. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is typically low because of the full, double flowers. When present, hips are small, spherical, about 8–12 mm in diameter, with a red colour that can add a light decorative effect in late season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated resistant to black spot, powdery mildew and rust under garden conditions. Winter hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b) with normal mulching and basic seasonal care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well‑drained soil; improve heavy clay before planting. Space 50–90 cm depending on use. Prune in late winter to maintain an upright bush and encourage strong flowering shoots each year. |
FREIHEITSGLOCKE® offers elegant, fragrant blooms on a healthy, upright, long‑lived bush, and as an own‑root rose it establishes securely and endures for years in a family garden; consider it if you like classic hybrid teas with modest upkeep.
