ZAHARA™ – white bedding floribunda rose - Olesen & Olesen
Set the scene for romantic afternoon teas under a rose-covered arbour with ZAHARA™, a compact floribunda chosen for its reliability and relaxed cottage-garden charm. Dense, glossy foliage and porcelain-white blooms with a soft cream heart create a gentle, storybook ambience, while its upright, bushy habit fits neatly into small and medium family plots. Own-root plants develop steadily for long-term durability and easy recovery after pruning, and they anchor well even where coastal winds and wet spells demand careful soil drainage. Over a few seasons, this tidy, medium-height shrub knits borders together with a cohesive white palette, offering a fragrant, low-fuss focal point that matures gracefully into your garden’s everyday rituals.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-of-border cottage rose drift |
The compact, upright bush with dense, dark green foliage and porcelain-white, cup-shaped clusters creates a soft, traditional cottage look without overwhelming smaller borders. Repeat flowering maintains a gentle white impression through the season, ideal for relaxed family plots where reliable prettiness matters to the busy homeowner. |
| Low, storybook-style hedge |
Planting at 40 cm intervals forms a low, bushy hedge that frames paths or separates lawn from kitchen garden beds. The even height, tidy spread and moderate maintenance needs suit those who want structure without formal clipping. Repeating flower flushes keep the hedge visually interesting for the romantic gardener. |
| Mixed cottage bed with perennials |
Its white and cream flowers sit calmly among pastel perennials and herbs, tying together varied colours and textures. The bushy habit and moderate disease resistance make it a steady backdrop rather than a demanding diva, helpful for those sharing borders with lavender or sedges and seeking balance as a hobby gardener. |
| Small to medium family garden focal point |
At around 80–110 cm, ZAHARA™ is tall enough to be noticed yet compact enough for modest plots. A single, well-grown shrub offers a romantic focal point near a seating area, combining clear fragrance with a composed outline that remains attractive year after year for the family buyer. |
| Raised beds on heavier soils |
In areas where clay tends to hold water, a raised planting position and improved subsoil help this rose establish reliable flowering and healthy root growth. Its sturdy, own-root base settles well once drainage is managed, reassuring those dealing with wetter ground and acting as a practical choice for the cautious planter. |
| Large decorative containers (40–50 L minimum) |
The compact spread of 60–80 cm makes it suitable for generous pots on patios or beside doorways, provided containers of at least 40–50 litres are used for root stability and moisture buffering. This allows urban or paved gardens to enjoy a cottage-style rose with manageable upkeep, appealing to the balcony owner. |
| Fragrant seating-area companion |
Medium-strength, fresh, peachy fragrance and repeat-flowering clusters suit a bench-side or terrace position, giving a gentle scent without overwhelming small spaces. The dense foliage screens low views and frames outdoor furniture, making everyday cup-of-tea moments feel special for the scent lover. |
| Long-term, low-fuss family planting |
As an own-root shrub, ZAHARA™ is bred for a long garden life with steady regeneration from the base after harder pruning or weather damage. Plant it once and allow it to mature from a young, container-grown start into a stable, repeat-flowering presence, suiting the forward-planning homeowner. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Hedge Charm – Line a path with a single-species hedge of ZAHARA™, underplanting with lavender to echo the white blooms and peachy scent – for lovers of traditional, storybook garden structure.
- Kitchen-Garden Edge – Use a row of plants to edge vegetable beds, softening productive areas with porcelain-white flowers and tidy foliage – for families who enjoy a pretty yet practical potager.
- Patio Tea Corner – Place one shrub in a 50 L container beside a bistro set, pairing with coreopsis for soft yellow accents – for busy urban gardeners wanting instant romance near the back door.
- Soft-White Border – Combine ZAHARA™ with blue sedges and dusky perennials for a cool, calming ribbon of white along the front of a mixed border – for homeowners aiming at an elegant, low-key cottage look.
- Storybook Entrance – Flank a garden gate with matching shrubs, letting their compact height frame the view and welcome guests with fragrance – for those who value a graceful, low-maintenance first impression.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda shrub rose from the Castle® collection; registered as POUlcas077, marketed as ZAHARA™ Castle® POUlcas077, a compact bedding type selected for garden and landscape planting. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in Denmark in 2021 by L. Pernille Olesen and Mogens Nyegaard Olesen for Poulsen Roser A/S, introduced circa 2024, with Poulsen Roser A/S as initial distributor in European markets. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy floribunda shrub, 80–110 cm tall and 60–80 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and relatively sparse prickles, forming a neat, medium-sized garden presence. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, cup-shaped blooms with 26–39 petals, medium-sized clusters of 3–5 flowers per stem, repeating well through the season with a notably abundant second flush for sustained effect. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cream to buttery-yellow centres fading to porcelain white, with outer petals RHS 36B and inner 45C; as blooms age, they retain a clean white impression with very good colour stability in garden conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, clearly perceptible scent with a fresh, peachy character; primarily ornamental but adds a pleasant fragrance dimension when planted close to seating areas, doors or frequently used paths. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces hips only in small quantities, with very small diameters recorded; ornamental impact of hips is minimal, and they do not significantly influence the shrub’s overall garden appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b), adequate for most temperate family gardens with routine care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suitable for bedding, low informal hedges and mixed borders; space 40–80 cm according to use, plant in well-drained soil, and provide medium maintenance with occasional plant protection if disease pressure is high. |
ZAHARA™ Castle® POUlcas077 offers compact, repeat-flowering white elegance, a gentle peachy fragrance and long-lived own-root resilience; a considerate choice if you seek a durable, cottage-style rose to enjoy for years.
