PIETRA™ – red bedding Floribunda rose – Olesen & Olesen
Compact and naturally bushy, PIETRA™ is a low, tightly built Floribunda that slots effortlessly into small borders, raised beds and containers, giving a quietly structured feel to an everyday family garden. Its clusters of red blooms repeat generously through summer, so You can look out from the kitchen or sit with afternoon tea beneath an arbour and still enjoy a steady flush of colour. As an own-root plant it is inherently long-lived, regrowing reliably from its base and keeping its ornamental value even after harder winters. In heavier soils it copes well when planted in lighter, raised ground, offering reassuring stability in breezier, rain-lashed plots where drainage needs a little extra thought. The medium-strength fragrance adds a soft, romantic note without overwhelming nearby seating areas, while its dense, glossy foliage frames the flowers and stays neat with only moderate maintenance. Over time You can expect a quiet development arc – first it invests in roots, then in sturdier shoots, before settling into its full bedding effect with dependable flowering by the third season.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-of-border in a family cottage garden |
Its compact, bushy habit (around 25–40 cm high) makes PIETRA™ ideal for the very front of mixed borders, where children and pets move about. The low, structured mounds define the edge without blocking views from windows or seating, and the repeat red flowering threads a cosy, traditional cottage-garden look through summer and early autumn – particularly suited to the romantic, storybook tastes of the family gardener. |
| Raised beds and heavy clay sites |
In gardens with heavier or clay-rich soil, this rose performs well when set into slightly raised or improved beds, where its dense root system anchors the plant securely and helps it to ride out wet, windy spells that are common in exposed or coastal-feeling plots. The compact width (30–45 cm) means drainage improvements are easy to concentrate around each plant, and the low height keeps wind rock to a minimum for the cautious but style-conscious homeowner. |
| Decorative containers on terrace or patio |
PIETRA™ suits large containers from about 40–50 litres, where its modest height and bushy outline give a tidy, formal look without complex pruning. In a pot by the back door or on a terrace, the medium-strength fragrance can be enjoyed close-up, and the continuous clusters of medium-sized red blooms provide colour even when other perennials are between flushes, appealing to the time-poor urban balcony-owner. |
| Low, formal edging or mini-hedge |
Planted at the recommended 30–35 cm spacing, this variety knits into a low, even hedge that outlines paths, kitchen-garden beds or lawn edges. The glossy, dark green foliage reads as a neat line even between flushes of flowers, and, because its growth is naturally compact, it needs only light trimming rather than strict shaping, which suits the practically minded yet romantic cottage-gardener. |
| Mixed bedding with perennials |
The medium-deep, slightly raspberry-fading red harmonises well with cool-toned companions like blue Verbena or small Heuchera, allowing You to build layered, cottage-style planting without clashing colours. Cluster-flowered heads punctuate the softer textures of perennials, and the remontant habit ensures that the rose keeps contributing structure and colour as herbaceous plants wax and wane, delighting the design-aware hobby-gardener. |
| Easy-care planting for beginners |
As an own-root shrub, PIETRA™ does not depend on graft unions, so if the top is damaged by frost or pruning, growth re-emerges true-to-type from the base, extending the plant’s useful life. Maintenance is moderate: a sunny position, basic feeding and seasonal pruning are usually enough to keep flowering steady, which fits the needs of the cautious but inexperienced beginner. |
| Long-term, low-growing feature in small gardens |
With a typical height below 40 cm and dense foliage, this rose offers long-term structure without outgrowing a modest front or back garden. The own-root form supports a longer lifespan, as older stems can be renewed from basal shoots over the years, so the plant matures gracefully instead of becoming leggy or short-lived, reassuring the investment-minded homeowner. |
| Scented seating areas and tea corners |
The medium, pleasantly noticeable fragrance remains comfortable near benches, arbours or outdoor tables, enriching quiet afternoon tea moments without being overpowering. As flowering repeats, the scent returns in waves through the season, while the manageable size keeps paths and seating clear for relaxed use by all ages, pleasing the comfort-seeking garden-visitor. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-border ribbon – Plant a soft ribbon of PIETRA™ along a path, underplanted with dwarf Heuchera and threaded with foxgloves behind for height – for lovers of relaxed, romantic cottage style.
- Terrace focal pot – Use one or three plants in a 50-litre clay pot by the back door, underplant with trailing thyme or lobelia to soften the rim – for busy urban gardeners wanting easy, all-summer colour.
- Kitchen-garden edging – Line vegetable beds with a low hedge of PIETRA™, interspersed with dwarf box at corners to echo its compact form – for home growers who like a traditional potager feel.
- Red-and-blue tapestry – Combine PIETRA™ with Verbena hastata ‘Blue Spires’ and airy ornamental grasses to create a woven red-and-blue summer tapestry – for design-conscious hobby gardeners.
- Front-garden welcome – Mass-plant along a small front lawn or driveway, keeping plants low beneath windows while giving a long-lived, structured welcome – for families wanting neat impact with modest effort.
Technical cultivar profile
| Attribute |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda shrub rose from the Palace® collection; registered as POUlpal105, marketed as Pietra™ Palace® POUlpal105, a compact red bedding rose for garden and container use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in Denmark in 2021 by L. Pernille and Mogens Nyegaard Olesen for Poulsen Roser A/S; introduced and registered in 2024 with CPVO application pending for European protection. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Low, bushy growth habit, around 25–40 cm high and 30–45 cm wide, forming compact, dense mounds with glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness on well-branched shoots. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, cupped, double blooms with 26–39 petals, borne in clusters; remontant flowering pattern with an abundant second flush that maintains decorative value through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Vivid, medium-deep red flowers (RHS 65C–65D) with slightly lighter rims; colour fades only moderately to scarlet-raspberry tones with gentle edge darkening, retaining an even, showy appearance. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, pleasantly noticeable scent that becomes more apparent in warm weather; primarily ornamental, with fragrance enhancing enjoyment near paths, terraces and seating areas. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose-hip formation is uncommon; if present, only very small hips of about 0–3 mm diameter develop, so hips contribute little to the ornamental effect or wildlife value of this variety. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7, Swedish Zone 4, USDA 5b); average disease and heat–drought tolerance, requiring occasional plant protection and irrigation during prolonged drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well-drained soil; plant 30–60 cm apart depending on use; suitable for beds, borders, hedging and large containers, with moderate maintenance and routine feeding advised. |
PIETRA™ offers compact, long-lived structure, repeat red flowering and a pleasant fragrance in an easy-handling own-root form, making it a thoughtful choice for quietly elegant, low-effort family gardens.
