NOVALIS® – lavender-lilac nostalgia rose – Kordes
Step out to NOVALIS® after a shower and its silvery rosettes glow against fresh green foliage, giving your garden that soft, storybook cottage charm with very little work from you. Bred by Kordes, this nostalgia shrub-floribunda offers reliable remontant flowering, sending up flush after flush of cool lavender-blue blooms even in a short Irish summer. Medium maintenance means the odd tidy-up and simple seasonal feeding, nothing complicated, while its own-root form promises a calm, long-lived presence that copes steadily as plants mature. In Atlantic gardens where heavy rain and clay soil are common, it rewards a bit of drainage care with stable, upright bushes that hold their shape and colour. Over time, you will see the natural rhythm: in the first year it quietly builds roots, in the second it gains confident shoots, and by the third it settles into full ornamental character, a dependable, lilac-hued backdrop to cheerful, contented moments outdoors.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden feature shrub |
NOVALIS® forms an upright, 70–100 cm bush that fits gracefully into small Dublin front gardens without overwhelming the space, giving a refined cottage-style focal point with classic lavender-lilac rosettes for beginners |
| Flower bed in family garden |
With good, remontant flowering and medium care needs, this variety keeps borders lively from early summer into autumn, rewarding simple deadheading and feeding with waves of bloom for busy |
| Romantic nostalgia planting |
The densely petalled, very double rosette flowers and cool mauve-lilac tones create a nostalgic, storybook effect that pairs beautifully with soft perennials and suits relaxed Irish cottage-style schemes for romantics |
| Low informal hedge |
Planting at 25–30 cm intervals builds a low, continuous flowering line along paths or drives; the dense, light-green foliage and upright habit give gentle structure without formal clipping for homeowners |
| Long-term garden framework |
As an own-root shrub-floribunda, NOVALIS® ages steadily rather than tiring quickly; if stems are damaged, new shoots arise from its own roots, supporting a long-lived, reliable presence for planners |
| Clay soil gardens with drainage |
In typical Irish clay, a slightly raised bed or grit-improved planting hole lets the roots breathe, and once established it tolerates wet spells and moderate drought, suiting changeable conditions for practical |
| Cut flowers from the garden |
The large, 7–10 cm, very double blooms and pale lavender-blue colouring make elegant, long-lasting stems for vases; their mild lavender fragrance adds a gentle indoor note without overpowering rooms for hosts |
| Own-root container specimen |
In a 40–50 litre pot with free-draining compost, this upright rose becomes a stable terrace or doorstep feature; its own-root vigour helps it recover well from pruning and weather, ideal where Atlantic rain and clay soil are common for urbanites |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-curve border – Sweep NOVALIS® along a curving bed with foxgloves and hardy geraniums to echo its lilac tones – ideal for lovers of relaxed cottage gardens.
- Terraced-doorstep duo – Place two large tubs of NOVALIS® by a front door, underplanted with Carex morrowii, for a soft, evergreen base to the lavender rosettes – perfect for small city entrances.
- Romantic ribbon hedge – Line a path with closely spaced plants, weaving in low lavender and white campanulas to create a scented, pastel walkway – suited to nostalgic gardeners.
- Evening reading nook – Combine NOVALIS® with Japanese honeysuckle on a nearby trellis so subtle lavender rose and honeysuckle notes mingle around a bench – appealing to fragrance-focused readers.
- Silver-mauve palette – Pair the cool lilac blooms with Artemisia, Stachys and pale pink roses for a sophisticated, powdery-toned bed – for design-conscious homeowners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Trade name NOVALIS® Fairytale Roses®, registered as KORfriedhar, exhibition floribunda shrub in the Romantica group, nostalgia rose type, approved exhibition name Novalis. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes at W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, in 2004; parentage not disclosed; registered 2011 and introduced after 2011 through Kordes’ European distribution network. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the prestigious ADR award (2013), SNHF Grand Prix de la Rose Premier Prix in France (2014), plus a Silver Medal at La Tacita International Trial, Italy, in 2015. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright bushy shrub reaching about 70–100 cm high and 35–55 cm wide, with dense, slightly glossy light green foliage and moderate prickles; medium self-cleaning so some deadheading is helpful. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, 7–10 cm, very double rosette blooms with more than 40 petals, usually borne singly on stems; remontant habit ensuring a plentiful second flush and season-long floral display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Soft lavender-blue and mauve-lilac shades, ARS code m, RHS 76C–76D; colour may lighten in strong sun but stays cooler and more vivid in lower temperatures, with a subtle silvery bloom on petals. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance is mild and restrained, with a gentle lavender-scented character noticeable at close range; suitable for those preferring a delicate perfume rather than a strongly scented garden rose. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate quantities of small, 8–12 mm spherical red hips late in the season, adding a discreet decorative touch without becoming a dominant feature of the shrub. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7, hardy to around −21 to −18 °C, USDA zone 6b; medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust, needing occasional preventative care in humid or high-pressure seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well-drained soil; spacing 25–45 cm depending on use, 6.2–7.2 plants/m²; medium maintenance with periodic feeding, watering in drought, and some plant protection when necessary. |
NOVALIS® offers romantic lavender-lilac blooms, compact upright growth and dependable remontant flowering on a resilient own-root shrub, making it a thoughtful, easy-care choice for long-term Irish gardens.
