QUICKSILVER – purple climbing rose - Kordes
Bring a sense of gentle quicksilver movement to your garden with QUICKSILVER, a large-flowered climbing rose whose softly cupped lavender blooms lend a dreamy cottage feel to pergolas, arches and Dublin terrace front walls. Bred by Kordes, it offers a pleasing balance of height and width, clothing supports with dense, dark green foliage and generously double, romantic flowers. Its medium, distinctly scented fragrance adds a relaxing note on mild evenings, while the sparsely thorned canes make tying-in and training more comfortable than many traditional climbers. In cooler Irish summers the colour remains particularly vivid, with a silvery-lilac sheen that reads beautifully even in soft light under typical Irish rainfall and changeable skies. As an own-root rose, it is designed for a long garden life, building up steadily through the natural rhythm of establishment in its first year, stronger growth in the second, and full ornamental presence by the third.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden rose arch |
Ideal where you want an inviting focal point at the entrance to a family home: the large, lavender-purple, very double blooms and medium, distinct scent create a welcoming archway that still feels refined and not overpowering, well suited to fragrance-loving beginners. |
| Irish cottage-style pergola |
Train along a timber or metal pergola to echo traditional cottage gardens: dense foliage and repeat flowering give good coverage and romance through the season, with colour that holds particularly well in cooler, softer summers often experienced by homeowners. |
| Dublin terraced-house front wall |
Perfect for narrow, urban front gardens where horizontal space is limited: its climbing habit lets you dress a plain wall without taking over the small bed below, leaving room for herbs or low perennials prized by busy city gardeners. |
| Part-shaded side passage |
Suited to bright partial shade where you still want flowers and scent: it will climb up a fence or trellis in those in-between areas, making the walk from front to back door more pleasant for practical, space-conscious families. |
| Freestanding rose obelisk |
Use as a vertical accent in lawn or mixed border: with a recommended solitary spacing of around 240 cm, its height and generous flower size give structure and height without crowding, appreciated by design-aware hobby gardeners. |
| Large container on terrace (40–50 L+) |
In a substantial 40–50 litre container, QUICKSILVER can be grown on balconies or patios where open ground is scarce; regular feeding and watering help offset its higher care needs, suiting committed but time-limited urban owners. |
| Feature fence in exposed garden |
Placed on a sturdy fence it offers good height and coverage, while moderate heat and drought tolerance, combined with regular watering, helps it cope through breezy spells and light dry periods often encountered by coastal-border gardeners. |
| Romantic seating corner |
Trained behind a bench or small seating area, its repeated flushes of pastel lavender blooms and medium-strength, relaxing scent create a calm corner that rewards ongoing care, especially valued by fragrance-focused rose enthusiasts. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Charm Arch – Let QUICKSILVER drape over a rose arch, underplant with Verbena hastata ‘White Spires’ and soft grasses for movement – ideal for cottage-garden lovers seeking gentle romance.
- Terraced Statement – Train it flat against a brick front wall with neat Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus’ edging – for city homeowners wanting colour and structure without sacrificing path space.
- Lavender Hideaway – Grow on a pergola above a bench, pairing with fragrant lavender and herbs to echo its medium, relaxing scent – perfect for fragrance-oriented evening sit-out areas.
- Pastel Pergola Mix – Combine on a pergola with white climbing clematis and pale foxgloves, letting QUICKSILVER provide the main lavender-purple mass – suited to those who enjoy soft, layered colour.
- Container Courtyard Column – Plant in a 50-litre pot with an obelisk, surround the base with trailing thyme and low verbena – for small courtyard owners wanting vertical impact from limited ground.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose, large-flowered; registered as KORpucoblu, traded as QUICKSILVER – purple climbing rose - Kordes; ARS exhibition name Quick Silver; own-root 2-litre container form. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes (Germany) from unnamed seedlings; breeding year 2004, registered 2015, introduced 2016 by W. Kordes’ Söhne Rosenschulen GmbH & Co. KG. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised in Australian National Rose Trials with a Certificate of Merit in 2022, indicating strong ornamental appeal and performance under trial conditions in a demanding test environment. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit, typically 180–300 cm high and 90–160 cm spread; dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage; sparsely thorned canes; moderate self-cleaning so some deadheading is still needed. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, cupped blooms, 7–10 cm diameter, usually in clusters; more than 40 petals; remontant with a plentiful second flush, offering an extended display during suitable weather conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pastel lavender base with silvery lilac tones; RHS 76C outer, 76A inner; colour richest in cooler periods, fading more in heat; silvery-lilac buds open to even, cool-toned purple with a gentle gradient. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, distinctly scented rose with a pleasantly soft, lavender-rose character; fragrance noticeable at close range around seating areas or entrances, contributing to a calm, relaxing atmosphere. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose-hip set is usually scant due to very double flowers; where formed, hips are small, ellipsoidal, about 9–15 mm, coloured orange-red, adding occasional late-season interest without becoming dominant. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about -26 to -23 °C (USDA 5b, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 4); disease resistance low, very susceptible to black spot, mildew and rust, so regular preventative spraying and hygiene are recommended. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on well-drained, fertile soil; likes support on arches, walls or pergolas; spacing 140–240 cm depending on use; partial shade tolerant; monitor closely for foliar diseases and treat promptly when needed. |
QUICKSILVER – purple climbing rose - Kordes offers romantic lavender blooms, a distinct fragrance and graceful height on long-lived own-root plants; consider it where you can give a cherished climber regular care and attention.
