HERKULES ® – cream-coloured lilac-shaded nostalgia rose - Kordes
Bring a touch of storybook romance to your cottage-style garden with Herkules, a bushy nostalgia shrub rose that feels perfectly at home beside hedges, lawns and a kitchen garden path. Its large, very double rosette blooms open in a soft lavender, cream-tinged pastel palette, slowly veiling over with a cool silvery-lilac sheen for a constantly changing display. The strong, fresh-fruity fragrance creates a “tea in the garden” atmosphere, while dense dark green foliage gives reliable structure to borders all season. Own-root planting means steady long-term regrowth and ornamental stability, with better recovery after hard pruning or weather damage. In blustery, damp sites typical of many British gardens it copes well with rain and wind once properly anchored, especially where heavier soils are planted in raised beds or improved for drainage. The bushy, upright habit suits mixed borders and larger containers (40–50 litres or more), and with remontant flowering you can enjoy repeat flushes of scented blooms across summer for years to come.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Romantic focal point near terrace or seating |
Use as a single specimen close to a bench, arbour or patio where the strong, fresh-fruity scent and large, nostalgic rosette flowers can be enjoyed at nose level through summer and early autumn, ideal for those seeking a cosy, storybook feel for family gardens. |
| Cottage-style mixed border with perennials |
Its bushy, upright but compact habit and dark, slightly glossy foliage give dependable structure among looser cottage perennials, with repeat flushes of pastel lavender flowers that knit the planting together for beginners wanting low-fuss romance in small borders. |
| Low informal flowering hedge |
Planted at the recommended spacing, Herkules forms a softly billowing line of scented, very double blooms and dense greenery that screens views and frames paths, suiting homeowners who prefer a traditional, gently enclosed look in front gardens. |
| Large containers on patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre (or larger) container with good compost and drainage, the compact spread and bushy growth create a substantial yet manageable potted shrub, well suited to busy urban gardeners who want impact without complex care in limited space. |
| Cut-flower rose for home arrangements |
The long, well-filled stems and large, very double rosette blooms are excellent for cutting, bringing the pastel lavender tones and strong, fresh-fruity fragrance indoors, appealing to those who enjoy simple, home-grown bouquets in kitchen vases. |
| Part-shade corners needing reliable structure |
Tolerant of partial shade, it keeps a dense, leafy framework and repeat flowering even where sun hours are shorter, making it useful for north-east or west-facing spots for householders wanting dependable planting in challenging aspects. |
| Weather-exposed, windier family plots |
Once established on improved soil, its bushy frame and own-root anchoring help it stand up to blustery, damp conditions common in open, rain-swept gardens, reassuring those near coasts or hilltops planning resilient family planting. |
| Long-term, low-replacement planting schemes |
As an own-root shrub, it regenerates well from the base after hard pruning or winter damage and maintains stable flowering character over many years, suiting planners who prefer planting once and enjoying lasting value in mature borders. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Garland – Thread Herkules along an arbour with honeysuckle for scented afternoon tea corners – for lovers of romantic English cottage gardens.
- Kitchen Patch Edge – Line a vegetable plot with a loose hedge of Herkules and lavender for soft structure – for home cooks who like flowers beside produce beds.
- Pastel Drift – Mix with Brunnera, foxgloves and pale campanulas for layered lilac and silver tones – for those seeking a dreamy, storybook border.
- Townhouse Pots – Plant one bush per large terracotta container with trailing thyme for easy elegance – for busy urban gardeners with patios or balconies.
- Evening Perfume – Combine with white roses and moonlight-friendly foliage to heighten its fragrance at dusk – for families who unwind outdoors after work.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Shrub nostalgia rose from the MärchenRosen collection; registered as KORherkul, marketed as Herkules ® MärchenRosen® KORherkul; ARS exhibition name Herkules for show and catalogue use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by W. Kordes & Sons, Germany, around 2000 with parentage unrecorded; introduced commercially in 2007 via W. Kordes’ Söhne and now supplied as a consumer own-root shrub. |
| Awards and recognition |
Gold Medal Kortrijk 2009, Bronze Medal Tokyo 2008, Bronze Medal IGS‑Wilhelmsburg 2013, reflecting international appreciation for its floral display and garden performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub, 100–150 cm high and 50–80 cm wide, with moderately thorny shoots and dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage giving strong outline and seasonal presence in borders. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms with 40+ petals in corymbose clusters; remontant habit with a notable second flush, plus medium self-cleaning that benefits from occasional dead-heading. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Delicate cream-lilac to pastel lavender flowers; buds pale with silvery tinge, opening to soft lavender then lightening with a cool silver-lilac veil, especially under strong sun as blooms age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strongly scented shrub rose with a fresh, fruity character; fragrance is readily noticeable around seating areas, enhancing sensory appeal in gardens where scented planting is prioritised. |
| Hip characteristics |
Very double flowers largely suppress hip set; occasionally forms small, red, ellipsoidal hips around 8–13 mm in diameter, offering limited autumn interest without seeding issues. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7; Swedish zone 3; USDA 6b); moderate heat and drought tolerance but moderate to sensitive against mildew, black spot and especially rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to beds, parks, urban spaces and cutting; plant 50–100 cm apart; prefers well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, regular health checks and timely pest and disease management. |
HERKULES ® combines richly scented nostalgic blooms, a bushy, structural habit and regenerating own-root growth for enduring cottage-garden charm; consider it where you want lasting romance with straightforward care.
