SHEHERAZADE® – pink floribunda bedding rose – Kimura
Step outside to Sheherazade and you are greeted by an unexpectedly cheerful, feminine rose that feels made for a small Irish garden, quietly thriving even where rainfall is frequent and summers are short. Its compact, bushy habit sits beautifully in a cottage-style border or a Dublin front garden, giving generous clusters of large, double blooms from early summer onwards. Bred for a fragrant presence, this variety carries a very strong, lingering perfume that turns an ordinary doorstep or path into a small daily treat. As an own-root plant it is naturally long-lived, stable and capable of gentle regeneration after pruning, so you get lasting structure with less worry. Give it a sunny spot with decent drainage, and over the first three years you will see it move from quietly building roots, to confident new shoots, to full romantic flowering that really defines its corner of the garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Small cottage-style front garden |
The naturally compact, bushy shape and 70–100 cm height make it easy to place near a path, gate or low wall without overwhelming the space, ideal where every square metre counts in a family garden, especially for the beginner homeowner. |
| Romantic “girly” border in a family garden |
Large, double, medium-pink blooms with lilac flushes bring a soft, feminine look that suits pastel planting and a relaxed cottage style, creating a pretty, storybook effect that appeals to those who like a gentle, decorative atmosphere. |
| Container on a sunny patio or doorstep |
Its compact spread and moderate maintenance needs suit a generous 40–50 litre container, giving impressive flowering close to the house where you can enjoy it without heavy gardening work, perfect for the busy urban gardener. |
| Fragrant seating area or evening terrace |
The very strong, long-lasting scent makes most sense where you regularly pass or sit, turning a small paved area or bench corner into a favourite spot for a short outdoor walk under soft light, especially valued by the fragrance-loving buyer. |
| Reliable repeat-flowering feature |
With abundant remontant flowering and a second flush that is also rich, it keeps colour coming through a short Irish summer, even where cool, damp spells are common, suiting those who want steady display with little planning effort. |
| Low-prickle family-friendly planting |
Sparse prickles make it easier to manage along paths or near play spaces, reducing snagging on clothes and making light pruning less daunting, which is reassuring for families and those who are slightly rose-care nervous. |
| Long-term garden structure |
As an own-root plant it is not dependent on a graft union, so it ages steadily, can regrow from its base after harder pruning, and keeps its character for many years, good for those planning a garden with lasting ornamental value. |
| Border planting in wetter, wind-exposed areas |
Medium disease resistance and a sturdy, moderately dense framework cope respectably in Irish conditions where frequent soft rain and cool winds meet roses, as long as soil drainage is improved a little, which suits pragmatic Atlantic-coast gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic – Thread Sheherazade® through a narrow front border with catmint and soft pink campanulas to emphasise its pastel, feminine flowers – ideal for homeowners dreaming of a gentle “girly” cottage look.
- Doorstep-Jewel – Grow one plant in a 40–50 litre terracotta pot by the front door, underplanted with creeping thyme so the scent greets you every time you step outside – perfect for busy city gardeners with limited soil.
- Perfumed-Patio – Place a trio around a small seating area, interplanted with lesser calamint and airy grasses so the strong fragrance drifts while the foliage stays compact – suited to fragrance-lovers who relax outdoors in the evening.
- Soft-Hedge – Plant a loose, knee-to-thigh-high line along a path at 45–55 cm spacing, mixing in cypress spurge for contrast, to create a low, friendly boundary – good for families needing structure without harsh, thorny hedging.
- Storybook-Feature – Use a single specimen at 85 cm spacing framed by salvias and old clay pots, letting its repeat flowering and own-root longevity anchor the scene – for gardeners who want one long-lived focal rose to build around.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Floribunda / modern shrub bedding rose, registered as KIMteller, marketed as SHEHERAZADE® – pink floribunda bedding rose – Kimura; ARS exhibition name Sheherazad. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Takunori Kimura in Japan in 2013, from the cross ‘Urara’ × ‘Jubilee Celebration’; registered 2015 and introduced in Europe after 2015 via André Eve Roses Anciennes. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly commended in international fragrance trials, including Nagaoka Silver Medal 2014, Gifu “Most Fragrant Rose” and Bronze Medal 2016, and Monaco Perfume Cup with Certificate of Merit 2018. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, bushy shrub reaching about 70–100 cm high with a 50–80 cm spread; moderately dense, matt mid-green foliage and comparatively sparse prickles make it easier to handle in tight spaces. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, 7–10 cm, fully double, cup-shaped blooms in clusters, with approximately 26–39 petals; remontant habit with a particularly abundant second flush providing a long display through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Medium pink flowers with a delicate violet-lilac flush; buds vibrant pink, opening to richer inner tones and paler outer petals that fade towards grey-lilac, retaining better colour in cooler, less intense sunlight. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, long-lasting perfume noted in multiple international trials; detailed scent breakdown not documented, but intensity and persistence make it suitable for high-impact fragrant planting near paths and seating. |
| Hip characteristics |
Moderate production of ellipsoidal rose hips, around 8–12 mm in diameter, colouring orange-red; ornamental interest is secondary to the primary display of repeated, scented flowering. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Winter hardy to around −21 to −18 °C (H7, USDA 6b), with medium resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; moderate heat tolerance, with best performance in temperate, not overly dry gardens. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to sunny borders, specimens and sizeable containers; prefers well-drained but moisture-retentive soil, regular feeding and pruning; spacing 45–85 cm depending on use, with about 3–4 plants per m² for bedding effect. |
SHEHERAZADE® – pink floribunda bedding rose – Kimura offers compact growth, abundant repeat flowering and powerful fragrance on a long-lived own-root plant; a considerate choice if you want lasting romance with manageable care.
