LARISSA® – pink groundcover rose – Kordes
With its softly cupped rosettes and bushy, low habit, Larissa® creates an instant feeling of cottage charm, turning small family gardens into relaxed, storybook corners without demanding high maintenance. This compact groundcover shrub knits together borders in a romantic carpet of pastel pink, flowering in generous flushes from early summer well into autumn, even where gardens face frequent rainfall and breezy, exposed conditions. Bred for strong disease resistance, it keeps its mid-green foliage clean with very little intervention, ideal if you want reliable colour but have limited time. As an own-root plant it settles deeply, offering reassuring longevity and the ability to regrow strongly if ever cut back hard, supporting the natural rhythm of Year 1 roots, Year 2 shoots, Year 3 full garden impact. Whether edging a path, softening a terrace or filling a raised bed on heavier soils, its rounded growth and repeat flowering deliver dependable colour and a gentle, homely atmosphere.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Low, colour-rich groundcover in family borders |
Larissa® forms a dense, bushy shrub that covers bare soil and suppresses gaps, giving a soft, low mound rather than tall stems. This structural habit makes it ideal along paths, around small lawns or under windows where you want flowers without blocking light, suiting busy family gardeners. |
| Season-long flowering focus near seating areas |
Its remontant nature ensures repeat flushes of soft pink rosettes from early summer into autumn, keeping the garden lively around patios and benches with minimal deadheading. This dependable rebloom provides relaxed, ongoing interest for those who enjoy simple, continuous colour. |
| Cottage-style mixed border with low maintenance |
High resistance to black spot, mildew and rust means foliage stays attractive without complex spraying routines, even in humid or changeable weather. The rose keeps its good looks with only basic feeding and light pruning, appealing to gardeners seeking easy-care cottage charm. |
| Long-lived feature in a small to medium garden |
As an own-root shrub it does not rely on a graft union, so it knits securely into the soil and can regenerate from its own wood if ever cut back or nipped by frost. This stable growth gives a reassuringly long service life for homeowners planning their garden for years ahead. |
| Roses for exposed or coastal-influenced plots |
Bred as a tough landscape rose, Larissa® performs reliably where weather is unsettled, coping well with persistent rain and wind without collapsing or defoliating. This resilience supports reliable flowering structure for gardeners in breezy, weather-beaten neighbourhoods. |
| Roses for heavier or imperfect garden soils |
The robust shrub character and strong root system make it a forgiving choice in ordinary and heavier soils when planted into well-prepared, free-draining beds or raised borders. Once established, it anchors well and maintains ornamental value for those with typical, non-ideal garden conditions. |
| Large containers on terraces and front drives |
Its compact height and rounded outline suit planting in generous containers of at least 40–50 litres, where root space and regular watering can be provided. In pots it still flowers freely, softening hard surfaces for urban and small-space gardeners. |
| Soft pink colour theming with other perennials |
The pastel pink blooms, lightening in strong sun and deepening in cool spells, blend easily with whites, creams and gentle blues, supporting a feminine, “girly” English-countryside look that feels cohesive over the seasons, ideal for lovers of romantic, pastel planting schemes. |
Styling ideas
- Pastel-Pathway Border – Line a front path with Larissa® interplanted with low yarrow and soft grasses for a welcoming, cottage-style entrance – ideal for homeowners who prefer a traditional, storybook feel.
- Kitchen-Garden Edge – Use Larissa® as a low rose hedge around a kitchen garden, pairing with herbs and Sedum spurium to blur the line between ornament and utility – suited to rural cooks who cherish homely abundance.
- Romantic-Raised Bed – In clay-prone plots, plant Larissa® in raised beds with drainage, mixing in catmint and salvias for a gently tumbling pastel display – perfect for busy gardeners on heavier soils.
- Courtyard-Containers – Place single shrubs in 40–50 litre terracotta pots by seating areas, underplanting with trailing thyme for fragrance and texture – attractive for urban balcony or patio owners.
- Soft-Groundcover Sweep – Mass-plant Larissa® on a slight slope or open bed to create a continuous, low pink carpet that reads as one feature – appealing to those wanting maximum effect from minimal effort.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Larissa® – KORbaspro; groundcover shrub rose from the RigoRosen® collection. Registered as KORbaspro; also traded as Larissa® RigoRosen® and Powderpuff in exhibition use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes (W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany) in 1998 from ‘Bassino®’ × ‘Rosenprofessor Sieber®’; introduced and registered in 2008 by W. Kordes’ Söhne. |
| Awards and recognition |
ADR rose (2008) with multiple international trial honours, including gold medals at Kortrijk/Courtrai, Rose d’Or Orléans and merit certificates at Bagatelle, Le Roeulx and RNRS Trial Ground (UK). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, upright, bushy shrub, around 55–90 cm high and 50–85 cm spread. Dense, mid-green, slightly glossy foliage; moderately thorny stems. Moderate self-cleaning, some spent blooms require removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, strongly double, rosette-shaped flowers with over 40 petals, produced in clusters. Remontant, with a generous second flush and repeated flowering through the season under normal garden care. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Soft pastel pink blooms (RHS 65C outer, 65A inner), slightly deeper at the centre. Colour lightens in strong sun and intensifies in cooler conditions, giving subtle variations from creamy-edged to more vivid pink. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Primarily an ornamental variety with very double flowers that enclose the stamens; fragrance is very weak and barely noticeable. Best chosen for colour and form rather than for scent-led planting schemes. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small spherical hips, approximately 7–11 mm in diameter, developing orange-red tones (around RHS 40A). Decorative effect is modest; hips are a secondary feature compared with the abundant flowers. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Excellent resistance to black spot, mildew and rust. Hardy to around -26 to -23 °C (RHS H7; USDA 5b; Swedish Zone 4). Tolerates heat but appreciates watering during extended drought to maintain performance. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to borders, flowerbeds, low hedging, parks, urban green and large containers. Plant 70–140 cm apart; allow 1.6–1.8 plants/m² in mass planting. Low maintenance; needs only light pruning and basic feeding. |
Larissa® offers a compact, bushy groundcover habit, season-long soft pink flowers and dependable disease resistance in a durable own-root form, making it a thoughtful choice for relaxed, long-lived family planting.
