Uniform, intense crimson‑purple shade with a subtle lilac shimmer. - groundcover rose - unscented rose - no noticeable fragrance
– Vivid crimson‑lilac rosettes in large clusters.
– Exceptionally floriferous, remontant flowering habit.
– Low‑maintenance, self‑cleaning groundcover shrub.
– Excellent disease resistance and urban tolerance.
– Compact, spreading habit ideal for beds and edges.
– Special feature: Multiple international medals confirm its reliable performance in varied European display gardens.
Thoughtfully curated range – Natural plant habit
darinaROSE® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
18,50 £
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship to the United Kingdom; we only deliver to countries within the European Union. For more information, please contact us!
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PURPLE RAIN ® – violet‑purple groundcover rose – Kordes
Bring a touch of storybook romance to your garden with ‘Purple Rain’ – a compact, spreading shrub rose that covers the ground in waves of rosette blooms in a vivid crimson‑lilac carpet. Bred by Kordes for dependable performance, it thrives in everyday family gardens and remains stable even in breezy, unsettled weather and regions where strong winds and rain regularly sweep in from the coast. Masses of very full, self‑cleaning flowers keep the plant looking neat with minimal effort, while its natural, low, arching habit fits effortlessly into cottage borders and around kitchen‑garden paths. As an own‑root plant, it builds strength gradually, rewarding you as it focuses on roots in the first year, top growth in the second, and then full ornamental value by the third, supporting a long‑lived, reliable garden investment. Its excellent disease resistance further reduces the need for spraying, and good heat and moderate drought tolerance mean it copes well with busy weeks when watering may be missed, making it a reassuringly easy‑care choice for relaxed, romantic outdoor living spaces.
Mid-green, slightly glossy foliage of Purple Rain ®.
Close-up of the moderately thorny stems of Purple Rain®.
Usage options
Target area
Reasoning
Front‑of‑border cottage edging
The low, spreading habit forms a natural edging that softens paths and beds with a continuous, romantic drift of crimson‑lilac rosettes. Self‑cleaning flowers keep the line tidy without constant deadheading, ideal for a traditional cottage look loved by beginners.
Low‑maintenance groundcover for family gardens
Designed as a true groundcover, this rose knits together into a dense, weed‑suppressing mat about 40–65 cm high and up to 1 m wide. Its minimal care needs and strong health suit busy households seeking easy structure and colour, especially homeowners.
Small urban gardens and front gardens
Compact spread, neat shape and excellent tolerance of heat and drier spells make it well suited to exposed town plots and paved front gardens. The vivid purple colour creates instant kerb appeal with little fuss, which is particularly valued by urbanites.
Informal hedging and rose drifts
Planted at 60–65 cm intervals, plants link into a low, flowing hedge or broad drift, perfect for framing lawns or kitchen‑garden beds. The uniform colour and prolonged flowering give a coherent, storybook feel appreciated by cottage‑style enthusiasts.
Containers and large pots (40–50 litres+)
Its moderate height and spreading habit adapt well to large containers of at least 40–50 litres, where roots have space to develop and the crown spills over the rim in a cascade of blooms. This is a practical, flexible option for patio‑loving families.
Raised beds on heavier soils
On heavier or clay soils, planting in raised beds or improved ground allows the own‑root system to develop steadily, supporting long‑term stability and flowering. The plant’s resilience and low input needs suit time‑pressed gardeners.
Coastal‑influenced and windy sites
The naturally low, prostrate structure offers good anchoring and less wind rock, while its breeding for robust health keeps it presentable in exposed, rain‑washed conditions typical of many coastal fringes appreciated by practical‑minded buyers.
Long‑term, low‑chemical plantings
Strong resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, combined with own‑root resilience, makes it an excellent candidate for long‑lived plantings where chemical inputs are kept to a minimum, aligning well with environmentally aware garden owners.
Styling ideas
Cottage Edging Ribbon – Run a sinuous line of ‘Purple Rain’ along gravel paths and mix with sweet alyssum for a soft, scented fringe – ideal for lovers of relaxed cottage‑garden romance.
Kitchen‑Garden Frame – Plant in a loose rectangular outline around vegetable beds, interspersed with clumps of showy coneflower, to create a pretty yet practical frame – perfect for rural kitchen‑garden keepers.
Patio Storybook Pots – Use one plant per 40–50 litre terracotta pot and underplant with trailing herbs for a cosy afternoon‑tea corner – suited to balcony and small‑garden dwellers.
Low Family Hedge – Space plants at about 60 cm to form a child‑friendly, flower‑laden low hedge that defines play lawns without blocking views – attractive for young families.
Urban Tapestry Bed – Combine ‘Purple Rain’ with evergreen cherry laurel and late‑summer perennials for a resilient, colour‑rich streetside bed – recommended for town and suburban front‑garden owners.
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
Groundcover shrub rose from the Vigorosa collection; registered as KORpurlig and sold as Purple Rain ® Vigorosa® KORpurlig in various markets and exhibition listings.
Origin and breeding
Bred by Tim‑Hermann Kordes (Germany) from ‘Bassino’ × ‘KORpeligo’; raised by W. Kordes’ Söhne, Sparrieshoop, introduced internationally in 2009 after breeding work begun in 1998.
Awards and recognition
Recognised with multiple European distinctions, including Wilhelmsburg International Rose Competition Silver Medal (2013) and a Certificate at Hradec Králové Rose Competition (2014).
Growth and structural characteristics
Low, spreading, prostrate shrub to around 40–65 cm high and 60–100 cm wide, moderately thorny, with moderately dense, mid‑green, slightly glossy foliage forming an effective flowering groundcover.
Flower morphology
Small, very full, rosette‑shaped blooms with over 40 petals borne in clusters; remontant with a generous second flush, giving an extended flowering season across typical garden conditions.
Colour data and phenology
Intense crimson‑lilac flowers with a subtle lilac shimmer; colour holds reasonably before softening to pastel violet‑purple with a rosy‑lilac sheen; ARS code m, RHS 77B outer and 77A inner petals.
Fragrance and aroma
Flowers are effectively unscented, with no notable fragrance; the very double form offers ornamental impact rather than scent and provides dense petalling that masks the stamens from view.
Hip characteristics
Produces some small, spherical hips about 5–8 mm across, typically green at maturity; decorative value is modest and hips are generally discreet within the foliage canopy.
Resistance and winter hardiness
Rated H7 and hardy to around −26 to −23 °C; shows strong resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust, with good tolerance of heat and moderate drought in established plantings.
Horticultural recommendations
Well suited for groundcover, beds, edging, parks, urban green spaces and larger containers; plant 60–65 cm apart for coverage and allow time for own‑root establishment before heavy pruning.
PURPLE RAIN ® combines compact carpet‑forming growth, abundant self‑cleaning flowers and strong disease resistance in a durable own‑root form that matures gracefully over years, making it a thoughtful choice for relaxed family gardens.
Meaning of Cultivar Name:
The meaning of "Purple Rain" is "Purple rain", and it refers to the flowers' vivid lilac‑purple shade and their long‑lasting, prolific flowering.
Competition and Show Awards:
Hradec Králové Rose Competition – Certificate (2014); Multiple international gold and bronze distinctions (various European display gardens); Wilhelmsburg International Rose Competition – Silver Medal (2013)
Closed Bud:
Deep, dark crimson‑purple surface with a slightly glossy sheen.
Newly Opened Flower:
Vivid, rich violet petals with a subtle reddish‑purple depth.
Full Bloom:
Rich, deep crimson‑purple bloom, the inner petals a shade darker.
Before Fading:
Lightening, turning into a pastel violet‑purple with a soft rosy‑lilac sheen.
Colour Fading Description:
The colour holds well; towards the end of flowering the rich crimson‑purple shade slightly lightens, becoming more pastel with a soft pinkish‑purple glow.
Pollinator Attraction:
The very double flower form of this rose does not attract pollinators because the dense, fully double petals hide and block access to the stamens, making nectar and pollen largely inaccessible to visiting insects.
Heat and Drought Tolerance Description:
According to descriptions, it tolerates heat and moderate drought well; during prolonged drought it requires watering.
Comment:
Characterised by very good urban tolerance - stable even with heat; drier periods; and intensive development. Groundcover selected specifically for low‑chemical maintenance.
Our product is a rose grown with pharmaROSA®’s unique cultivation technology!
2-litre, own-root, potted rose.
With a shoot system appropriate to the season.
With a root system that thoroughly permeates the growing medium.
Quality compliant with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
Supplied in unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-variety rose bush with a unique identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Crop overview: several varieties and growth stages in a short crop section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: demonstration of a vigorous root system permeating the growing medium, by removing the pot.Balance: mature plant with root system and shoots in harmony with each other.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”; it illustrates the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root cultivation in a tangible way: how the plant is built up, what the root system is like and how the shoot system regenerates. The recordings were therefore made at different times and with plants at various stages of development, so mixed foliage levels and differing stages of growth may appear in the videos. They are not a ‘sample’ of the batch dispatched, but a visual explanation of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical for the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown in the upper part of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
