PRAGUE ™ – white bedding floribunda rose – Olesen
Imagine stepping outside for a brief wander after rain, the garden washed in soft light and gentle raindrops, and a low, bushy rose smoothed over with perfectly shaped clusters of pure white blooms. PRAGUE ™ Castle® has been bred for effortless ease in everyday Irish gardens, coping calmly with cool summers, steady rainfall and the kind of reliability You need when time is short. Its healthy mid-green foliage shrugs off common fungal problems, while dense branching fills a narrow border or small front garden without feeling crowded. As an own-root plant it settles in steadily and can regenerate from the base, offering a quietly long-lived presence that suits family plots and tidy cottage paths alike. Give it a bright spot, reasonable drainage and a little patience as roots deepen, shoots strengthen and full display follows in a natural three-year rhythm, and You will be rewarded with months of clean, cheerful colour.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Small front garden by the path or gate |
Its bushy, upright habit and 95–125 cm height give a neat, welcoming outline without overwhelming a narrow city front. Self-cleaning clusters of snow-white flowers keep the area looking tended with little effort, perfect for the busy homeowner who dislikes deadheading. Ideal for the beginner. |
| White cottage-style bed near the house |
Very double, cup-shaped flowers in pure white with a soft cream centre bring a romantic, “girly” feel that suits Irish cottage borders. The long repeat-flowering season means interest from early summer well into autumn, even when summers are short and cool. A charming choice for the romantic. |
| Low informal hedge along a drive or boundary |
Plant at about 60 cm spacing to form a loose, flowering hedge that defines paths and parking areas. Reliable disease resistance keeps foliage glossy and green, so the hedge looks composed even in humid, changeable weather by the Atlantic. A practical solution for the householder. |
| Mixed perennial bed with soft summer colours |
Medium-sized, cluster-flowered blooms sit beautifully among salvias, echinaceas and grasses, acting as a cool white anchor for pinks, mauves and blues. Good heat tolerance, provided watering is regular in dry spells, supports performance beside perennials that enjoy similar conditions. Designed for the stylist. |
| Family-friendly play garden backdrop |
Stable own-root growth and hardy, bushy structure make it a long-term backbone shrub that copes well with knocks and the odd stray football. With hardiness down to around -30 °C and strong disease resistance, it remains reliable year after year with minimal spraying or fuss. Reassuring for the parent. |
| Elegant mass planting in larger flower beds |
In groups at about 70 cm spacing, PRAGUE ™ forms a low, continuous wave of white blossom that reads as one calm, luminous surface from a distance. Its award-winning performance and ADR status reflect consistent quality, especially valuable where You want a professional look in a home setting. Suited to the perfectionist. |
| Large container on patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot with good drainage, its compact, upright habit and dense foliage create a polished, “finished” effect close to the house. Own-root resilience helps it recover if containers dry briefly, while regular watering supports strong flowering through showery, breeze-prone Irish summers. Ideal for the urbanite. |
| Easy-care rose area for low-maintenance gardeners |
Maintenance is low: no complex pruning, and most spent blooms drop on their own, so a light annual tidy is usually enough. The plant’s natural disease resistance and robust root system mean fewer chemical treatments and a long ornamental life, suiting those who prefer gentle, sustainable gardening. Perfect for the time-poor. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-White Border – weave PRAGUE ™ through a narrow front border with lavender and catmint for a soft, storybook edge – for romantic cottage-garden lovers.
- Formal-Front Accent – plant a pair in large matching pots by the door, underplant with evergreen box balls for year-round structure – for tidy, design-conscious homeowners.
- Soft-Grass Drift – mass-plant with airy ornamental grasses and pale echinacea for a modern, meadow-like ribbon of white – for contemporary nature-inspired gardeners.
- Pastel-Companion Bed – combine with blush roses and pink salvias, letting its pure white flowers calm the palette – for colour-sensitive planting enthusiasts.
- Family-Backbone Strip – run a loose line along a lawn edge, backed by shrubs, to give a durable, low hedge that copes with family life – for practical family-garden planners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose from the Castle® collection; registered as Poulcas043, marketed as Prague ™ Castle® Poulcas043, with ARS exhibition name Prague™. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in Denmark in 2000 by Mogens Nyegaard Olesen (Poulsen Roser A/S) from unnamed seedlings; introduced after 2013 with EU PBR and US plant patent protection. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds ADR certification (2017) and multiple international trial awards, including UK RNRS Trial Ground Certificate and medals from Baden-Baden, Le Roeulx, Lyon and Glasgow. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub 95–125 cm high and 85–115 cm wide, with dense, glossy mid-green foliage (RHS 137A) and moderate prickles, forming a full, well-branched garden plant. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, 4–7 cm, very double, cup-shaped cluster flowers with 40+ petals; abundant first flush followed by strong remontant second flowering through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds are lustrous off-white; newly open blooms show snow-white outer petals and creamy centres, remaining clear white with minimal fading (RHS 155D, 158C, ARS white). |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Primarily an ornamental variety with no noticeable fragrance; strongly double blooms conceal stamens and offer limited pollen access, so pollinator attraction is relatively low. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rosehips are rarely produced; when present they are small, spherical, 10–14 mm, and orange (RHS 25A), adding occasional late-season interest without heavy seeding. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Excellent resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; hardy to about -32 to -29 °C (H7, USDA 4b, Swedish zone 5) with good heat tolerance if watering is adequate. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil; space 60–110 cm depending on use, 2.0–2.3 plants/m² for bedding; ideal for beds and large pots, with generally low maintenance. |
PRAGUE ™ offers easy, disease-resistant flowering, a long-lived own-root structure and elegant white clusters that suit Irish family gardens; a thoughtful option if You want reliable beauty with little effort.
