ALEXANDRA - P. DE LUXEMBOURG ® – salmon-pink hybrid tea rose - Kordes
Bring a touch of storybook romance to a small Irish garden with this salmon-pink hybrid tea rose that shrugs off rainfall and damp days yet keeps on blooming. Alexandra - P. de Luxembourg® forms a bushy, compact habit with mid-green, glossy foliage, perfect for a “girly” cottage border or a neat Dublin front garden. The large, rosette-shaped blooms open in warm salmon-pink tones, maturing to pastel with a creamy edge, and carry a fruity, sweet perfume you notice every time you step outside. On its own roots it is bred for a long, reliable life, quietly rebuilding from the base after a tough winter and giving stable, lasting ornamental value. Plant once, then enjoy a remontant display from early summer into autumn with just light deadheading, while its H7 hardiness and strong black spot resistance help it cope with cool, changeable Irish weather. Over a relaxed three-year rhythm – first roots, then structure, then full splendour – it settles into your everyday outdoor routine with minimal fuss.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden statement rose by the door |
The large, salmon-pink, rosette blooms and medium-tall, bushy habit give plenty of impact in a small space, ideal beside a path or doorway where you can enjoy the strong, sweet-fruity fragrance every day – perfect for the fragrance-loving homeowner. |
| Irish cottage-style mixed border |
Steady remontant flowering and solid winter hardiness mean Alexandra - P. de Luxembourg® fits easily into traditional cottage borders, offering dependable colour between herbaceous perennials despite cool summers that shorten other plants’ display – reassuring for the nostalgic cottage-garden gardener. |
| Low-maintenance family garden shrub bed |
Own-root growth ensures a long-lived, regenerating framework, while resistance to black spot and moderate overall disease tolerance keep maintenance simple: basic pruning, deadheading and good air circulation usually suffice – ideal for the busy family gardener. |
| Individual specimen in lawn or gravel |
The upright, compact structure and clear salmon-pink colour stand out well on their own, creating a focal point in a small front lawn or gravel corner without needing complex companion planting schemes – suited to the design-aware but time-poor beginner. |
| Decorative large container on patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre container with good drainage and quality compost, this bushy hybrid tea provides a long season of scented flowers close to seating areas; own-root vigour supports recovery from occasional drought or missed feeds – helpful for the urban balcony owner. |
| Season-long colour by the terrace or seating area |
Generous repeat flowering with a good second flush keeps colour going from early summer well into autumn, so even short Irish summers feel richly floral around your seating area with just regular deadheading – rewarding for the evening-relaxation garden user. |
| Small informal hedge or path edging |
Recommended spacings of 45–55 cm allow you to form a soft, flowery edging that visually ties house and garden together; own-root plants fill out evenly, and moderate prickliness gently guides children to stay on the path – practical for the family-focused garden planner. |
| Romantic focal point in damp, exposed plots |
Robust H7 hardiness and resistance to black spot help it cope with cool, wet, wind-brushed conditions, giving reliable flowering even where salty Atlantic air and frequent showers challenge more delicate roses – reassuring for the weather-conscious coastal gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Doorway Charm – Plant Alexandra - P. de Luxembourg® by a front step with lavender and soft grasses to frame the door in salmon-pink and perfume – ideal for romantic city-front-garden owners.
- Pastel-Border Ribbon – Thread a short row through a cottage border with pink foxgloves and soft geraniums to create a gentle, repeating salmon-pink note – suited to nature-oriented beginners.
- Patio-Perfume Pot – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre terracotta container near a favourite chair, underplanted with trailing thyme for an easy-care, scented corner – perfect for busy balcony and patio gardeners.
- Storybook-Hedge Touch – Use several plants at hedge spacing along a path, weaving between low box or hebe, for a friendly, slightly formal edge – great for family gardens needing structure without complexity.
- Evening-Focus Island – Place a single specimen in a small island bed, ringed with white campanula and pale catmint, to catch the late light and evening scent – appealing to design-conscious hobby gardeners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, MärchenRosen® collection. Registered as KORjuknei; trade name Alexandra - P. de Luxembourg®; ARS exhibition name Alexandra Princesse de Luxembourg; dedicated to Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes in Germany around 2000; parentage not disclosed. Registered in 2012 and introduced after 2012 through international Kordes channels; commercial type hybrid tea rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds a silver medal from the Kortrijk International Rose Competition and additional awards at other international trials, highlighting overall garden performance and ornamental value. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy shrub with dense, mid-green, slightly glossy foliage. Typical height 80–105 cm, spread 50–70 cm. Moderately thorny stems; best in sunny positions as a border, specimen or container feature. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, rosette-shaped blooms, 7–10 cm across, with 26–39 petals. Flowers in clusters; remontant habit with a generous second flush. Self-cleaning weak, so deadheading is recommended for repeat flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Clear, warm salmon-pink with coral tinge; RHS 38C outer, 36B inner. Buds open paler then intensify, later fading to pastel with creamy edges. Medium colour retention through a prolonged blooming season. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, distinctly fragrant rose with a sweet, fruity character noticeable at close range. Best appreciated near paths, doors and seating areas where repeated daily contact enhances the aromatic experience. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hip set usually low due to double flowers and partial self-cleaning. Where formed, hips are ellipsoidal, 8–12 mm in diameter, orange-red RHS 41A, adding small late-season ornamental accents. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to approximately −29 to −26 °C; RHS H7, USDA zone 5a, Swedish zone 4. Black spot and rust resistant, powdery mildew moderate. Overall disease pressure reduced by good air flow and dry foliage. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil, slightly acidic to neutral, avoiding waterlogging on heavy clay. Spacing: 55 cm for masses, 45 cm hedging, 90 cm specimens. Prefers full sun; mulch annually and deadhead spent blooms. |
Alexandra - P. de Luxembourg® offers romantic salmon-pink blooms, strong fragrance and reliable hardiness on long-lived own roots, making it a considerate choice if you would like a graceful yet undemanding garden rose.
