Black Forest Rose® – red floribunda bedding rose
Reliable clusters of vivid red blooms make Black Forest Rose® an easy choice for neat, front‑of‑house beds and borders, where you want colour without demanding upkeep. This compact, bushy floribunda forms a dense, glossy green shrub that keeps its shape well, anchoring small gardens even where strong winds and rain frequently test planting schemes. Self‑cleaning flowers mean most spent blooms drop off naturally, helping the plant stay tidy with only light deadheading. As an own‑root rose, it settles in and matures steadily, giving you a robust structure that bounces back from pruning and winter weather, supporting a genuinely long garden lifespan. The medium‑sized, semi‑double blooms open their stamens to visiting bees, so your flowerbed also feels more alive. The intense red colour hardly fades, ensuring a consistent, impactful display from the first flush through a generous second wave of flowering. In its first year it focuses on roots, the second on stronger shoots, and by the third year it delivers full ornamental value with minimal intervention.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden bedding near the entrance |
The compact, bushy habit and medium height make this rose ideal for low beds flanking a path or doorway, where it provides strong colour without overwhelming the space. Its reliable, long flowering season creates a welcoming look for busy homeowners. |
| Small family borders around the house |
Good self-cleaning and moderate maintenance needs keep borders looking neat between occasional tidy‑ups, even when time is short. The shrub’s natural shape stays orderly, so you can keep borders attractive with flexible, light pruning suited to beginners. |
| Informal cottage-style mixed plantings |
The semi-double blooms offer accessible pollen, supporting bees among perennials such as asters and clematis. This adds movement and life to a classic cottage mix, where you can rely on repeat flowering without complex care, ideal for nature-lovers. |
| Colour-strong focal groupings (3–5 plants) |
Planted in small groups, the even, medium-toned red and excellent colour retention give a bold, unified block of colour that reads clearly from the pavement. The generous second flush extends this effect through summer, appealing to visually focused gardeners. |
| Low informal hedging along paths or drives |
Regular spacing creates a continuous line of bushy, upright plants that frame paths without growing too tall. Own-root development means the hedge thickens reliably over time and recovers well from periodic trimming, suiting long-term‑thinking planners. |
| Family play-space edges and lawn borders |
The dense, glossy foliage and sturdy structure stand up well at the edge of lawns where balls and feet may brush past. Colour stays strong with little fading, so borders remain attractive between weekend gardening sessions, ideal for active families. |
| Containers and large patio planters |
This rose performs well in generous containers of at least 40–50 litres, where its compact frame and self-cleaning habit simplify terrace care. Steady own-root growth helps it adapt to pot conditions, giving dependable structure for time-pressed city-dwellers. |
| Exposed or wind-affected garden spots |
The bushy, well-branched form anchors beds and borders where wind and rain would flatten floppier perennials, helping maintain a tidy outline through unsettled British weather. This resilience reassures less experienced but quality-conscious buyers. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-curve border – weave Black Forest Rose® through a curved front border with hardy geraniums and dwarf asters for relaxed colour that still looks orderly – suited to informal-style enthusiasts.
- Red-and-green focus – plant a tight group of three roses against dark evergreen shrubs to emphasise the saturated red flowers and glossy foliage – ideal for design-conscious small-garden owners.
- Pathway edging – line a garden path with evenly spaced plants, underplanted with creeping thyme to soften the edge while the roses provide long-season structure – perfect for low-maintenance front gardens.
- Patio feature pot – use a single plant in a 50-litre container with trailing thyme and seasonal bulbs for year-round interest and easy pruning access – convenient for terrace and balcony gardeners.
- Family lawn frame – set a row along the edge of a lawn, alternating with compact perennials, to create a tough, colourful boundary that copes with everyday play – great for busy family households.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bed rose from the RigoRosen® collection; registered as KORschwill and marketed as Black Forest Rose® / Black Forest Rose, exhibition floribunda / bush rose for garden and show use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes at W. Kordes’ Söhne from unnamed seedlings; introduced and registered in 2010 by W. Kordes’ Söhne, continuing the firm’s modern landscape floribunda line. |
| Awards and recognition |
ADR rose (Germany, 2010); 1st prize Baden bei Wien Rose Competition 2010; Gold medals Kortrijk/Courtrai 2011 and 2012; RNRS Trial Ground Certificate UK 2011; honoured at La Tacita, Italy. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright floribunda reaching about 65–95 cm high and 55–85 cm wide; moderately thorny stems with dense, glossy dark green foliage that forms a cohesive, ground-covering shrub in beds. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, semi-double, cup-shaped blooms with around 13–25 petals, borne in clusters. Remontant habit with a plentiful second flush, and good self-cleaning as many spent blooms fall naturally. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Bright, saturated medium red, ARS MR, RHS 46A–46B; colour retention is excellent with minimal fading, moving slightly towards maroon as blooms age. Closed buds are deep scarlet-red, opening to uniform red. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
No noticeable fragrance; classed as unscented. Semi-double form leaves stamens exposed, giving partial pollinator friendliness as bees and other insects can access nectar and pollen with ease. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small spherical hips, about 6–10 mm across, in orange-red RHS 40A tones; overall production is low due to good self-cleaning, so hips are a minor visual element on established plants. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 4, USDA 5b). Good heat tolerance and coping with short dry spells; black spot and rust resistant, powdery mildew moderate, requiring occasional monitoring. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well-drained soil; spacing 50–100 cm depending on use. Suitable for beds, hedging, ground cover and urban plantings; plant 2.8–3.2 plants/m² for dense mass effects in public or private spaces. |
Black Forest Rose® offers long-season red colour, tidy self-cleaning clusters and a compact, durable own-root shrub that matures steadily over the years, making it a reassuring choice for easy-going family gardens.
