SCHNEEWITTCHEN® – white park rose - Kordes
Step out your front door and SCHNEEWITTCHEN® greets you with snowy clusters of blooms that seem to glow in soft Irish light, creating a feeling of quiet elegance even on grey days. This classic shrub rose, known worldwide as ‘Iceberg’, flowers generously from early summer well into autumn, keeping your small family garden gently luminous while coping reliably with our cool summers and steady rain, where repeat-flowering shrubs really earn their keep in the border. Bushy, upright growth and glossy mid-green foliage create an easy, orderly backdrop beside cottage paths and Dublin terraces, needing only modest care to look well. Planted on its own roots, it settles in for the long term, capable of quiet endurance, steady renewal after tougher winters, and dependable structure in beds or low hedges. Give it decent drainage and light feeding, and expect a gentle three-step settling-in: roots in year one, stronger shoots in year two, and full garden presence by year three.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden focal point by the path |
Its bushy, upright shape and self-cleaning flowers keep a tidy look along a busy front path with very little deadheading, ideal when you want a welcoming, snowy-white feature that behaves itself in a narrow bed – a calm choice for the beginner. |
| Low flowering hedge along a driveway or boundary |
Plant at 90–100 cm intervals and SCHNEEWITTCHEN® knits into a loose, sparkling hedge, offering structure in winter and months of bloom from summer onwards, with own-root plants giving long-lived, reliable performance – reassuring for the homeowner. |
| Cottage-style mixed border with perennials |
The pure white clusters blend effortlessly with pinks, purples and airy grasses, pairing beautifully with Liatris, Monarda or Stipa in a relaxed cottage mix, the moderate height sitting comfortably mid-border – perfect for the romantic. |
| Urban terrace or small lawn centrepiece |
Used as a solitary shrub at about 1,7 m spacing, it forms a graceful, upright dome that reads clearly from the street, giving character to compact Dublin front gardens without demanding complex pruning – a smart option for the town-dweller. |
| Part-shaded side garden or east-facing wall |
Suitability for partial shade means it will still flower well where sun is limited to morning or late afternoon, bringing brightness to side passages or between houses where other roses sulk – especially useful for the busy. |
| Coastal or windswept suburban plots |
Robust shrub growth and flexible, sparsely thorned stems cope better with breezier sites, as long as soil drains reasonably; its long flowering season keeps interest even when other plants are set back by weather – encouraging for the seaside. |
| Large container on patio or balcony (40–50 litres) |
Given a 40–50 litre pot with drainage, this variety becomes a dependable, repeat-flowering patio companion; own-root planting allows it to recover if top growth is damaged and to remain ornamental for many years – ideal for the apartment. |
| Family garden flower bed with simple care |
Medium disease resistance, good black-spot tolerance and self-cleaning flowers mean less spraying and deadheading, while the long flowering window suits shorter Irish summers, extending colour for months – very reassuring for the time-poor. |
Styling ideas
- Soft-hedged path – Line a cottage-style path with evenly spaced SCHNEEWITTCHEN® shrubs for a low, white flowering hedge that stays neat with minimal clipping – for those who like classic order with low effort.
- White-and-lavender calm – Pair its pure blooms with lavender, catmint and silvery foliage to create a soothing, fragrant front garden that looks refined from the street – for fragrance lovers seeking a gentle retreat.
- Romantic cottage mix – Weave among pink perennials and airy grasses like Stipa for a “girly”, storybook Irish cottage border that flowers right through summer – for dreamers who favour soft colour and movement.
- Elegant container feature – Plant one shrub in a generous 50-litre pot by the door, underplanted with trailing thyme or bacopa, for an easy-care welcome that copes with busy routines – for urban owners short on time and space.
- Family-friendly lawn anchor – Use as a central shrub island in a small lawn, surrounded by low groundcover, creating a bright focus that children can circle without prickly, dense thorns – for families wanting beauty that feels safe.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
SCHNEEWITTCHEN® (KORbin), also known as ‘Iceberg’, a floribunda shrub park rose; registered cultivar name KORbin, commercial type park rose, shrub group, exhibition category floribunda shrub. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, from ‘Robin Hood’ × ‘Virgo’; introduced 1958, unregistered variety in formal registers but globally established in gardens and trade. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated classic: Baden-Baden Gold Medal and RNRS Gold Medal 1958, ADR 1960 (later withdrawn), RHS Award of Garden Merit, World Favourite Rose 1983 and WFRS Hall of Fame honouree. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous, bushy, upright shrub reaching 100–150 cm high and 80–120 cm wide, with dense, glossy mid-green foliage and relatively sparse thorns; good self-cleaning habit keeps plants looking fresh. |
| Flower morphology |
Large double flowers, 7–10 cm across, with 26–39 petals in clustered, cup-shaped inflorescences; remontant, with abundant main flowering followed by strong repeats, especially in favourable seasons. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Radiant white blooms, RHS 155C outer, 155D inner; buds creamy to greenish-white, sometimes flushed pale pink in cool weather; colour holds moderately well, edges may brown slightly in hot spells. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Sweet, mild fragrance with a restrained rose character; pleasantly noticeable at close range without dominating nearby seating areas, suiting family gardens and terraces where subtle scent is preferred. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally sparse due to the double flowers; when formed, hips are small, spherical, around 7–10 mm in diameter, colouring orange-red (RHS N34A) and adding modest late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −29 to −26 °C (RHS H7; USDA 5a; Swedish zone 4); medium disease resistance overall, good black spot resistance, moderate for mildew and rust; needs regular watering in prolonged heat. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in well-drained, fertile soil with regular mulching on clay; space 90–170 cm depending on hedge or specimen use; tolerates partial shade and urban sites; protect young growth from late spring frosts. |
SCHNEEWITTCHEN® brings months of pure white bloom, a tidy self-cleaning habit and long-lived own-root reliability to everyday Irish gardens, making it a thoughtful, low-fuss choice when you are selecting a shrub rose.
