SPEELWARK® – apricot-yellow hybrid tea rose - Kordes
Bring a touch of cottage-garden romance to even the smallest Irish front garden with SPEELWARK®, a premium hybrid tea rose bred by Kordes for reliable garden performance. Large, exhibition-style blooms open from warm peach-yellow buds into full, apricot-cream cups with a soft pink sheen, glowing beautifully in gentle sunlight after showers and in the muted brightness of Irish evenings. The strong, peachy-citrus fragrance adds instant charm to short strolls to the gate, while its bushy, upright habit keeps the plant neat beside paths or under front windows. Planted on its own roots in a well-drained bed that copes with our regular rainfall, it settles steadily over three seasons – first building roots, then adding shoots, and by year three giving you its full ornamental value in a calm, dependable way.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden focal point by the path or doorway |
The bushy, upright habit and XL, exhibition-style blooms create an immediate focal point without dominating a modest urban or terraced plot. One plant at 65 cm spacing offers a tidy, premium look with minimal effort for the busy home gardener. |
| Cottage-style mixed border in family gardens |
Planted at about 40 cm among perennials and light grasses, its repeat-flowering habit and shifting apricot-to-peach-cream colours weave naturally into cottage-style planting. Own-root growth ensures the clump matures steadily and remains reliable for the relaxed cottage gardener. |
| Cut-flower corner for home arrangements |
With solitary, long-stemmed hybrid tea blooms over 10 cm, SPEELWARK® is ideal for cutting a few stems for the house. Strong fragrance and refined form give that florist-style vase effect for the fragrance-loving arranger. |
| Specimen rose in a feature bed or lawn island |
Premium breeding and award recognition mean consistent flowering and form, so a single plant reads as a “statement” rose. Own-root planting offers long-term stability and good recovery after pruning for the quality-conscious collector. |
| Row or low hedge along a drive or front boundary |
Set at about 30 cm for a low hedge, its dense dark-green foliage and regular, upright framework form a neat line. This structure keeps the front garden ordered through winter, suiting the structure-seeking planner. |
| Large container on patio, terrace, or doorstep (40–50+ litres) |
In a spacious, well-drained pot of at least 40–50 litres, its compact spread and remontant flowering give steady colour close to seating and doorways, offering a long-lived feature with simple seasonal care for the space-limited city dweller. |
| Family seating area or path where scent is appreciated |
The strong, peachy-citrus fragrance is best enjoyed up close; placing it near benches, back doors, or frequently used paths turns everyday comings and goings into small scented moments, appealing to the scent-focused homeowner. |
| Small garden bed exposed to regular rain and soft light |
Bred by Kordes and hardened to cool, damp conditions, it copes well with changeable Irish weather, provided the soil is free-draining to avoid waterlogging after repeated wet spells, suiting the weather-aware beginner. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Duo – Combine SPEELWARK® with Hemerocallis in warm tones so its shifting apricot-cream flowers echo daylily shades – ideal for the relaxed gardener who likes soft summer harmonies.
- Feathered Border – Thread plants through a drift of Stipa tenuissima to let the large, formal blooms float above fine grasses – perfect for design-conscious owners wanting movement with low extra effort.
- Terraced Welcome – Place a single plant in a 50-litre pot by the front step, underplanted with trailing ivy, to make a scented welcome on compact city terraces for visitors and residents alike.
- Sunlit Specimen – Give one own-root bush its own sunny spot in a small lawn island, with pale mulch to reflect light back onto the peach-yellow petals, suiting those who enjoy one clear statement plant.
- Soft-Edge Hedge – Plant a short row along a path, interspersed with lavender, to frame walks with structure, fragrance, and easy seasonal care that fits busy family schedules.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as KORwarpeel, traded as Speelwark® Hybrid tea rose KORwarpeel; approved exhibition name Speelwark, belonging to the Rós taehibride commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by W. Kordes & Sons in Germany from the cross ‘Portrait’ × ‘Funkuhr’; introduced in 1999 after 1998 registration by W. Kordes’ Söhne as initial distributor. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised with a Silver Medal at Potsdam International Rose Competition 2001, Certificates of Merit at Belfast Rose Trials 2001, and an award at Adelaide National Rose Trial Garden 2008. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright shrub reaching about 70–95 cm high, spreading 35–50 cm, with dense, glossy, dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; medium maintenance with occasional plant protection recommended. |
| Flower morphology |
Very large, solitary, double cup-shaped hybrid tea blooms (over 10 cm) with 26–39 petals, remontant with a plentiful second flush, primarily presented singly on stems suited to cutting. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Peach-yellow base overlaid with pale yellow and pink; buds warm peach-gold, opening to soft peach-yellow with pink edges, then fading through apricot and peach-cream to powder pink with a salmon-pink outer flush. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strongly scented hybrid tea rose with a clear, noticeable perfume combining a peachy character and a fresh citrusy background; suitable for planting where the fragrance can be enjoyed at close quarters. |
| Hip characteristics |
Forms moderate numbers of small, spherical hips in late season, orange-red in colour, typically around 8–12 mm in diameter, adding a modest decorative element after the main flowering period. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to approximately −26 to −23 °C (USDA 5b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 4); disease resistance moderate for black spot, mildew, and rust, benefiting from good air circulation and basic preventive care. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers a sunny position in fertile, well-drained soil; spacing 40 cm in borders, 30 cm for hedging, 65 cm as specimen; 6.3–7.2 plants/m² for mass plantings; keep evenly moist and avoid prolonged drought. |
SPEELWARK® Hybrid tea rose KORwarpeel offers fragrant, exhibition-quality blooms, compact structure, and long-term stability from its own-root form, making it a thoughtful choice if you would like a refined yet manageable garden feature.
