VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – Kordes
If You dream of a softly lit, “girly” front garden that still copes calmly with rainfall and coastal breezes, VALENCIA ® gives classic hybrid-tea elegance without complicated routines. Large, high‑centred blooms in a rich peach‑yellow shade open from golden buds, bringing a warm, fruity perfume that gently perfumes paths and cottage‑style borders. On its own roots it builds a dependable framework over time, quietly increasing its flowering power and ornamental value while staying compact enough for typical Irish family gardens. In its first year roots settle, the second year brings stronger shoots, and by the third it reaches full garden presence. With good basic drainage and simple deadheading, this upright, glossy‑leaved bush repeats generously through the season, offering long‑lasting blooms for cutting and relaxed evenings of contentment.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
| Cottage‑style mixed border |
Classic, high‑centred flowers in warm peach‑orange tones give a traditional cottage feel, while the upright habit fits easily among perennials and grasses. Repeated cutting encourages more stems, ideal for a relaxed, romantic border for the hobby‑gardener. |
| Front‑door feature rose |
The strong, fruity rose fragrance and large exhibition‑style blooms make a welcoming focal point beside a gate or path, even in a small Dublin terrace. Regular deadheading is straightforward, keeping flowers coming for visitors and the fragrance‑loving homeowner. |
| Cut‑flower row in family garden |
Long‑stemmed, solitary blooms are perfect for vases, with buds that open slowly and hold their shape. This lets You enjoy premium, garden‑grown cut roses across the season, a rewarding choice for the beginner. |
| Own‑root long‑term specimen |
On its own roots the plant forms a stable, renewing framework that rebounds well after pruning or weather damage, supporting a long garden life. This future‑proofs a cherished specimen for the planning‑minded buyer. |
| Small family lawn island bed |
Compact height and 50–70 cm spread suit a modest circular bed in the lawn. With simple feeding and watering in dry spells, it flowers for months, adding colour without taking over, ideal for the busy urban family. |
| Irish cottage garden with grasses |
VALENCIA ® pairs beautifully with switchgrass and airy perennials, and its moderate disease resistance suits close‑to‑nature care in typical Irish moisture, where the rose still performs well through changeable, softly wet summers for the nature‑oriented gardener. |
| Large container on patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, its upright habit and glossy foliage create a neat, long‑flowering patio rose. This brings scent and colour to rented spaces and hard surfaces, convenient for the space‑limited urbanite. |
| Pollinator‑friendly scented corner |
Although fully double, the blooms still offer some access and attract pollinators moderately, while the strong scent and repeat flushes keep the corner lively. Combine with nectar‑rich companions to support bees and the environmentally aware gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage‑Ribbon – Thread VALENCIA ® along a low, winding border with pincushion flowers and Japanese wormwood for a soft, storybook look – perfect for romantic cottage‑garden enthusiasts.
- Amber‑Welcome – Plant a single bush by the front step with lavender in front for fragrance at hand height – suited to homeowners who want a smart, scented entrance.
- Cutting‑Lane – Line a sunny side path with evenly spaced plants for easy access to long‑stemmed cut flowers – ideal for those who love filling vases from their own garden.
- Grassy‑Glow – Combine with switchgrass and other airy grasses so the peach blooms float in a haze of seedheads – appealing to nature‑oriented gardeners after movement and texture.
- Patio‑Perfume – Grow in a 50‑litre terracotta pot with thyme around the base for a scented, low‑care patio feature – great for busy urban residents with limited planting space.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as KOReklia, marketed as VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – KOReklia; exhibition hybrid tea and cut‑flower type within the Rós taehibride commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm Kordes III in Germany from ‘Jana’ × ‘Whisky Mac’; introduced and registered in 1989 by W. Kordes & Sons, combining classic form with warm, modern colouring. |
| Awards and recognition |
Durbanville Gold Medal 1988; RNRS Edland Fragrance Medal and Certificate of Merit 1989; RHS Award of Garden Merit 2001, reflecting reliable performance and notable scent. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, medium bush 70–100 cm tall, 50–70 cm wide, with dense, dark‑green glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; self‑cleaning is weak, so spent blooms usually need manual removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, fully double, high‑centred hybrid‑tea blooms, 7–10 cm across, borne mainly singly on stems; 26–39 petals with a pointed, exhibition‑style form, remontant with abundant second flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Closed buds deep golden yellow with orange tones; open to rich peach‑orange with golden‑yellow; fade to pastel, creamy peach, especially in strong sun; overall ARS ab, RHS 22A outer, 23B inner. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, characterful perfume combining sweet, fruity notes with a deep classic rose scent; noticeable on warm, still days and particularly effective near paths, doors, or seating areas. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate quantities of small, ovoid hips, 10–14 mm across, in an attractive orange‑red, adding late‑season interest if flowers are not all removed for cutting or deadheading. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish Zone 4); good heat tolerance with watering in long dry spells; disease resistance moderate: black spot and rust resistant, mildew moderate. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun, fertile, well‑drained soil; spacing 40–80 cm depending on use, about 4–4.6 plants/m² for massing; medium maintenance, requiring occasional plant protection and regular deadheading. |
VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – KOReklia offers richly scented, long‑stemmed blooms on a durable own‑root plant that settles in for years of reliable colour, a thoughtful choice if You favour lasting beauty with manageable care.