QUEEN OF ROSES® – salmon‑orange hybrid tea rose – KORbico
Under a cottage‑style arbour or beside a kitchen‑garden path, QUEEN OF ROSES® brings a quietly regal presence with long, elegant buds opening into classically cupped blooms of warm salmon‑orange, softening to peach‑pink as they age. Bred for endurance and recognised with ADR and Belfast medals, it offers genuinely low‑effort maintenance thanks to its reliable disease resistance and strong, upright structure. The moderate, fruity‑tea fragrance and long, straight stems make it as rewarding in a vase as it is in the border, while its compact height and glossy dark foliage suit small family gardens where you need beauty without fuss. As an own‑root plant, it knits into the soil securely, giving better anchorage even where raised beds are used to improve heavier ground, and develops steadily from root in year one, leaf and flower in year two, to full ornamental abundance by year three. With its reliable repeat flowering, it fits effortlessly into “girly” cottage schemes and romantic weekend gardens, whether in beds or in a generously sized container of at least 40–50 litres, providing a long‑lived, easy‑care investment for your outdoor space.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Feature rose near a seating area or patio |
The upright, compact habit and repeat flushes of large, beautifully formed blooms make this an excellent focal point close to where you sit for afternoon tea, offering consistent decorative value with little intervention for beginners. |
| Classic cottage‑style mixed border |
Its moderate height and sturdy, straight stems give dependable structure among perennials and herbs, helping the border hold its shape while the salmon‑orange flowers weave a romantic thread through more informal planting for cottage‑lovers. |
| Low‑maintenance family front garden |
Strong resistance to black spot, mildew and rust keeps foliage healthy and tidy without complicated spraying regimes, ideal for busy households wanting a smart, welcoming frontage that looks well cared‑for with minimal effort for time‑pressed. |
| Cutting bed or kitchen‑garden rose row |
Long, straight stems, very full blooms and a moderate fruity‑tea scent make this a reliable source of high‑quality cut flowers, integrating beautifully beside vegetables or herbs for those who enjoy bringing home‑grown bouquets indoors for home‑stylists. |
| Container on terrace or small urban courtyard |
Its compact footprint and upright habit allow planting in a 40–50 litre container, where own‑root vigour and good anchorage give stability and long life, even in exposed spots, suiting those with limited ground space for balcony‑owners. |
| Long‑term garden “heirloom” planting |
As an own‑root rose, it ages gracefully, regrowing strongly from its own wood after hard pruning or winter damage, so the same plant can remain attractive for many years in a settled family garden, rewarding patient planners. |
| Raised beds over heavier or tired soil |
Planted in improved soil within raised beds, the robust root system and solid framework help it establish securely and perform well where drainage has been corrected over heavier ground, making it dependable for problem‑solvers. |
| Flexible pruning schemes and informal hedging |
Its upright, moderately dense framework responds well to both traditional hybrid‑tea pruning and gentler shaping, so you can keep individual specimens neat or create a loose, romantic row without strict technique, ideal for relaxed gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Tea‑time Arbour – Train QUEEN OF ROSES® beside a light metal arch, underplanted with lavender and feverfew for scent and movement – perfect for cottage‑style romantics.
- Kitchen‑Door Welcome – Place a 50‑litre terracotta pot by the back door, with trailing thyme at the base, to enjoy easy‑reach flowers for cutting – ideal for busy home‑cooks.
- Soft Sunset Border – Combine its salmon‑orange blooms with pale pink roses, catmint and ornamental grasses for a hazy evening glow – suited to weekend gardeners.
- Family Front Edge – Plant a loose row along the drive, interspersed with low box or hardy herbs, to give structure and colour with minimal care – good for young families.
- Cutting‑Garden Row – Line up several plants in a dedicated strip with dahlias and annuals, ensuring a steady supply of long‑stemmed blooms – for enthusiastic arrangers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as KORbico, marketed as QUEEN OF ROSES® hybrid tea rose KORbico; also known in exhibition circles as Colour Wonder for cut and show use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes (W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany), from ‘Kordes Perfecta’ × ‘Super Star’; bred 1964, registered 1964, introduced 1965 by Kordes for garden and cutting use. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds ADR rose status from 1964 for garden performance and health, and received the Belfast Gold Medal in 1966, confirming its value as a decorative hybrid tea cultivar. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, compact hybrid tea rose to around 85–115 cm high and 60–85 cm wide, with moderately dense, glossy dark green foliage and dense prickling, forming a neat, vertical framework. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very full, cup‑shaped flowers with a medium‑high centre, usually borne singly on stems; over 40 petals, repeating well through the season, with particularly abundant second flushes. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm salmon‑orange buds open to uniform salmon‑orange blooms with silky sheen, then fade to softer peach‑pink with yellowish tones on outer petals; colour retention moderate to weak in sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Moderate, clearly perceptible scent with a fresh, fruity‑tea character; not overpowering at close quarters, but distinct enough for use as a cut flower and enjoyable near seating areas. |
| Hip characteristics |
Generally sparse hip set; small ellipsoidal hips around 10–14 mm, orange‑red in colour, offer limited ornamental interest, so the plant is usually deadheaded to encourage repeat flowering. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Classed as resistant to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; hardy approximately to −23 to −21 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6a, Swedish zone 3), suitable for most UK garden conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers a sunny, well‑drained position; spacing 40–75 cm depending on use, with 4.2–4.8 plants per m² for massing; ideal as border, specimen or cutting rose in family gardens. |
QUEEN OF ROSES® hybrid tea rose KORbico offers reliable repeat flowering, strong disease resistance and a long‑lived own‑root framework, making it a thoughtful, enduring choice for your cottage‑style garden.
