Bordeaux® Bedding rose KORelamba – burgundy floribunda for easy front gardens
Effortless planting meets reliable flowering with Bordeaux®, a bushy floribunda bred by Kordes for durable performance in family gardens. Its deep wine-red blooms keep their character through the season, lighting up beds and borders with classic cottage appeal, while the plant’s naturally healthy foliage reduces routine spraying and fuss. As an own-root rose it develops a stable, balanced bush shape over the years, supporting a genuinely long garden life with the minimum of intervention. In typical British conditions it copes well with wet, windy spells and heavier soils when given sensible drainage, so it settles in reliably and avoids drama. The remontant flowering cycle offers generous flushes from summer into autumn, giving your borders a consistently tidy, well-kept look without intensive pruning. Think in terms of roots in year one, shape and shoots in year two, and full ornamental value by year three for a calm, confident gardening experience that suits busy households.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden beds along paths or drives |
The upright, bushy habit and medium height give a structured, “looked-after” frontage without towering over the space, while the deep burgundy flowers add formality and warmth. Low maintenance and good disease resistance mean only light pruning and occasional deadheading, ideal where you want impact but have limited time for upkeep, especially for the busy beginner. |
| Small mixed cottage-style borders |
Clusters of wine-red blooms repeat all season, weaving easily among perennials and small shrubs and bringing a traditional cottage mood in a compact footprint. The own-root form settles and thickens gradually, so the rose becomes a long-term backbone in the border rather than a short-lived feature, suiting those planning a stable, evolving garden picture for the aesthetic homeowner. |
| Low, tidy rose groups of 3–5 plants |
Planted in small groups, Bordeaux® forms an even, rounded mass of colour, its repeat-flowering habit ensuring very few bare gaps between flushes. Recommended spacings create a dense, coherent bed that is easy to weed and simple to prune back each year, offering maximum visual return from a straightforward layout for the practical gardener. |
| Informal low hedging or edging |
At closer spacing Bordeaux® makes a low, bushy line that softens paths, lawns or drive edges without demanding precise clipping. Good structural density and glossy foliage maintain a neat outline through the season, while occasional shaping cuts are entirely sufficient, appealing to those who prefer relaxed, forgiving hedging for the time-pressed family. |
| Containers and large pots near entrances |
This compact floribunda adapts well to container life when given a substantial volume of compost in at least a 40–50 litre pot. Regular watering and feeding keep flower production high, while strong disease resistance means very little specialist care on doorsteps, patios or balconies, a welcome quality for the urban balcony-owner. |
| Small family lawns as standalone focal points |
As a solitary shrub Bordeaux® provides a strong colour focus without overwhelming modest lawns, and its upright habit reads clearly from a distance. Own-root growth delivers steady thickening over the years rather than sudden, awkward surges, so the plant matures gracefully with simple annual pruning, suiting the long-term planner. |
| Exhibition-style yet easy-care display beds |
The generous, well-formed cup-shaped flowers lend themselves to show-style groupings, but the rose’s low maintenance and strong resistance mean you can enjoy a “show bench” effect without specialist routines. Repeating flushes maintain the display over summer, making it perfect for those who like a smart, formal look as hobby exhibitors. |
| Coastal or exposed suburban sites |
Healthy foliage, good hardiness and sturdy bush structure help Bordeaux® stand up to blustery weather and typical British rain, provided the soil drains reasonably to avoid prolonged waterlogging. This resilience reduces loss and replanting over time, supporting a reliable planting scheme that copes with changeable conditions for the cautious novice. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Contrast – Combine Bordeaux® with soft pink geraniums and white campanulas for a relaxed, layered front-garden border – ideal for cottage-style enthusiasts.
- Wine-and-Lime – Pair its deep burgundy flowers with lime-green heucheras and pale ornamental grasses to create a crisp, modern edge – suited to design-conscious homeowners.
- Classic Path Line – Repeat small groups along a front path, underplanted with low lavender for structure, scent and easy upkeep – perfect for busy families wanting order.
- Patio Welcome – Plant a single Bordeaux® in a 50-litre terracotta pot with trailing ivy for a smart, low-effort doorway feature – attractive for urban and suburban porch settings.
- Evening Glow – Set Bordeaux® behind white daisies and silver-foliage plants so the dark blooms stand out in dusk light – appealing to those who enjoy after-work garden time.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as KORelamba, marketed as Bordeaux® Bedding rose KORelamba; a bush rose suitable for both exhibition use and general ornamental garden planting. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes (Germany) around 2004, introduced by W. Kordes’ Söhne in 2014–2015; parentage has not been published, but follows the Kordes focus on health and garden reliability. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated in international trials: Geneva and Kortrijk silver medals (2013), Rome gold medal (2013), Monza Journalist Award (2015), Glasgow silver medal (2017), Australian National Trial Gold (2017). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy shrub reaching about 70–100 cm high and 45–65 cm across, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness, creating a full yet manageable structure in beds and borders. |
| Flower morphology |
Clusters of large, double, cup-shaped blooms with approximately 26–39 petals; flowers are borne in trusses, with good remontant performance and a particularly abundant second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Deep wine-red to burgundy blooms (RHS 53A–53B) with a velvety effect, opening ruby-toned then maturing to magenta-fuchsia shades; colour lightens slightly in strong sun yet retains a rich, romantic impression. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, pleasant fruity fragrance that does not overwhelm nearby seating areas; primarily selected for colour and garden performance rather than strong scent, yet offers a gentle aromatic note on warm days. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hip set is generally low due to double flowers, but where present hips are small, spherical, about 10–14 mm in diameter, and dark red (RHS 45A), with modest ornamental contribution in late season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, with strong tolerance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; winter hardy approximately to −21 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6a), making it suitable for most UK locations. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions with reasonably drained soil; spacing from 30–55 cm depending on use, with 8.2–9.4 plants/m² for massing. Moderate self-cleaning, so light deadheading and annual pruning maintain display. |
Bordeaux® Bedding rose KORelamba offers rich burgundy colour, dependable repeat flowering and strong health in a long-lived own-root form; a thoughtful, confidence-building choice if you would like a reliable front-garden rose.
