SUNSTAR ® – creamy yellow bedding floribunda rose - Kordes
Bring a gentle, afternoon-tea ambience to your garden with the softly glowing cream‑yellow blooms of Sunstar, a bushy floribunda bred by Kordes for dependable, season‑long display. Its compact, upright habit suits average family gardens, edging paths, defining kitchen‑garden beds or brightening smaller front gardens without overwhelming the space. In changeable British weather it remains reassuringly stable, coping well with blustery, damp spells and lighter soils where good drainage matters as much as sunshine and shelter. Dense, glossy foliage forms a neat, uniform mound that helps the plant look “finished” even between flushes, while double, cupped clusters of flowers refresh beds and large containers with modest deadheading. Planted as an own‑root rose, Sunstar offers impressive longevity, regrowing reliably from its own wood after harder winters or pruning, and maintaining its ornamental value year after year. In practical terms, you can expect roots to establish in the first season, stronger bushy growth in the second, and the full, romantic bedding effect by the third, with a calm, low‑maintenance routine that suits busy home gardeners.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-of-border bedding in family gardens |
The compact, bushy structure and 70–95 cm height create a tidy, low line of colour that children and adults can enjoy up close. Regular repeat flowering means beds stay presentable between school terms with only light deadheading – ideal for busy families. |
| Romantic cottage-style rose and herb borders |
Clusters of soft cream-yellow blooms blend effortlessly with traditional cottage plants, giving a romantic, storybook look without demanding expert pruning. Own-root vigour and long lifespan mean the border matures gracefully around it over many seasons – perfect for cottage-garden lovers. |
| Low informal rose hedge along paths or drives |
Uniform growth and dense, mid-green foliage allow Sunstar to knit into a soft, continuous line, guiding visitors towards the front door. With moderate maintenance, it keeps its shape and colour without strict clipping – reassuring for first-time gardeners. |
| Feature containers on patios and terraces |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container, Sunstar’s upright habit and repeat blooms create a bright focal point for seating areas. A single well-grown plant gives months of interest with simple watering and occasional pruning – a good match for urban balcony owners. |
| Kitchen garden edging and productive borders |
The neat stature works well as a floral edge to vegetable or herb beds, adding structure without casting excessive shade. Own-root resilience helps the plants recover from the odd knock or accidental brush with tools – appreciated by practical home growers. |
| Mixed shrub and perennial borders on challenging soils |
Sunstar performs reliably where good drainage is provided, even in areas with wind, rain and heavier soils, making it a steady presence among perennials and small shrubs. Once established it anchors the planting visually – valuable for exposed-garden owners. |
| Small cutting patch for informal arrangements |
The long-stemmed, cupped clusters suit casual jugs and vases, offering soft colour rather than strong scent. Regular picking helps encourage further blooms, turning a corner of the garden into a quiet source of seasonal stems – delightful for home flower arrangers. |
| Low-maintenance family play garden accents |
Moderate disease resistance and the capacity to regrow well from its own wood keep the plant looking solid even if care is sometimes delayed. The simple yearly prune is flexible, so it fits around school holidays and work patterns – helpful for time-pressed owners. |
Styling ideas
- Pastel border ribbon – Plant Sunstar in a low sweep with soft pink coneflowers and dwarf coral bells to edge lawns near a seating area – for families wanting a gentle, storybook frame to everyday life.
- Country path welcome – Line a front path with repeated Sunstar plants and airy pink verbena for a relaxed, romantic entrance – for homeowners who favour a traditional, cottage-style first impression.
- Kitchen-garden frame – Use Sunstar as a neat edging around raised vegetable beds, mixing it with chives and low herbs – for cooks who enjoy harvesting produce within a pretty, structured setting.
- Patio parlour – Place a single Sunstar in a 50 litre tub with trailing thyme and heuchera to create an outdoor “sitting room corner” – for urban gardeners making the most of compact terraces.
- Soft focal island – Build a small island bed with Sunstar at the centre, underplanted with heuchera and seasonal bulbs – for beginners wanting a simple, all-in-one feature that matures gracefully.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Sunstar ® Bedding rose KORsteimm; floribunda shrub rose, bedding floribunda type; ARS exhibition name ‘Sunstar’; registered cultivar name KORsteimm; name refers to its bright, sun-coloured blooms. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm Kordes III in Germany in 1997 from ‘Bernstein-Rose’ × unnamed seedling; introduced after 2008 by W. Kordes’ Söhne, with registration in 2008 under US Plant Patent 20 700. |
| Awards and recognition |
ADR certification in Germany (2007); Monza bronze medal (2006); Kortrijk silver medal (2009); Dublin Rose of the Year (2009); UK Gold Standard gold rating (2010); SNHF Grand Prix de la Rose winner (2011). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright floribunda reaching 70–95 cm high and 40–60 cm wide, with dense, mid-green, glossy foliage (RHS 143A); moderately thorny stems; moderate self-cleaning, with some spent blooms needing removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cupped blooms (2.75–3.95 in) carried in clustered inflorescences; 26–39 petals; good repeat flowering through the season with an abundant second flush when basic deadheading and feeding are provided. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cream-yellow overall, with soft lemon and butter tones; RHS 11C outer and 8C inner petals; colour may fade towards straw-yellow in strong sun, staying fresher in cooler weather; blooms soften gently as they age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very faint fragrance, only subtly scented at close range; no specific fragrance character recorded; grown mainly for visual effect rather than perfume, making it suitable near seating for scent-sensitive households. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate numbers of small, spherical hips 8–12 mm across; orange-red when ripe, adding discreet seasonal interest and structure in late summer and autumn after the main flowering period. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7, hardy to around -21 to -18 °C; USDA zone 6b and Swedish zone 3; moderate heat and drought tolerance with watering in dry spells; moderate resistance to mildew and rust, but somewhat black spot susceptible. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in well-drained soil with regular watering and feeding; suitable for beds, low hedges, 40–50 litre containers and cutting; moderate maintenance with occasional plant protection and light annual pruning as required. |
SUNSTAR ® – creamy yellow bedding floribunda rose - Kordes offers compact, uniform growth, repeat flowering and long-lived own-root resilience, making it a thoughtful choice for relaxed family gardens and cottage-style spaces.
