VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – KOReklia
Elegant blooms of warm peach and amber tones make VALENCIA ® a refined choice for front gardens and mixed cottage borders, combining classic cut-rose flowers with practical garden performance. This upright hybrid tea forms a compact, well-branched bush with glossy, dark green foliage that fits neatly into smaller family plots, coping well with breezy, wetter sites where good air movement and drainage matter as much as looks. Strong, fruity fragrance and exhibition-style, high-centred blooms mean you can cut stems for the house while still enjoying repeat flushes outside. As an own-root plant it settles in steadily, building a long-lived, resilient framework that recovers well from pruning and weather. With regular deadheading and modest care, you see roots establishing in the first year, stronger top growth in the second, and full ornamental impact by the third season, giving you a reliable, medium-maintenance rose that feels reassuringly timeless yet perfectly at home in today’s busy family gardens.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front garden focal point |
Use VALENCIA ® as a single specimen near the path or entrance, where its upright habit and refined, high-centred blooms are easy to appreciate. One plant at 80 cm spacing is enough to anchor a small bed, offering a classic look with manageable maintenance for the beginner |
| Small mixed cottage border |
In a narrow border, its compact 70–100 cm height fits between perennials without overwhelming them, while warm peach-yellow flowers blend beautifully with blues and mauves. Combine with airy companions to keep good air circulation and reliable health in typical British mixed borders for the homeowner |
| Around-the-house ornamental strip |
Planted in a run along walls or fences, VALENCIA ® forms a neat, repeating rhythm of glossy foliage and fragrant blooms. Moderate disease resistance and good winter hardiness make it a sound choice where space is tight but you still want long-term structure and colour for the urbanite |
| Small group planting (3–5 roses) |
Groups of three to five plants at 50 cm spacing create a richly coloured, rose-dominated bed that flowers in waves through the season. The remontant habit gives an abundant second flush, so the area looks “full” without needing complex planting plans for the stylist |
| Cutting patch in a family garden |
The long-stemmed, high-centred blooms are ideal for vases, so a modest cutting row can supply the house without spoiling the garden. Regular cutting doubles as pruning and deadheading, keeping plants in flower and growth tidy with straightforward seasonal tasks for the enthusiast |
| Raised bed on heavier soils |
On clay or poorly drained ground, a simple raised bed lets VALENCIA ® show its best, as the own-root plant gradually builds a stable framework in improved soil. This approach reduces waterlogging stress and keeps maintenance practical for those managing challenging plots for the problem-solver |
| Large container on patio or terrace |
In a pot of at least 40–50 litres, this compact hybrid tea becomes a moveable accent near seating or doors, where the strong, fruity perfume can be enjoyed up close. The own-root habit helps long-term pot performance, with straightforward seasonal feeding and watering for the balconeer |
| Structured rose-and-grass composition |
Planted with fine-textured grasses and low perennials, VALENCIA ® provides the formal, upright rose element while companions soften the outline and support air movement around the foliage—useful in humid or breezy sites—creating a future-proof, resilient planting for the planner |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Harmony – Thread VALENCIA ® through a short border with pincushion flowers and soft blues for a gentle, romantic cottage feel – for lovers of relaxed, traditional front gardens
- Amber Focus – Use a single plant in a small gravel bed with dwarf wormwood for silvery contrast that highlights the warm peach-yellow blooms – for design-conscious minimalists wanting one strong feature
- Perfumed Path – Plant a short row by a main path, spacing evenly so every few steps catches the strong, fruity scent – for busy families who still want a sensorial welcome home
- Elegant Cutting Row – Dedicate a slim bed to several plants in a line, making it easy to cut exhibition-style stems while keeping the display tidy – for home florists who like arranging their own roses
- Grassland Accent – Combine with switchgrass and other airy grasses so the upright rose form punctuates a looser, naturalistic planting – for gardeners blending classic roses with contemporary meadow-inspired schemes
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose; registered as KOReklia, marketed as VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – Kordes; ARS exhibition name VALENCIA; hybrid tea group for garden and cutting use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm Kordes III, W. Kordes & Sons, Germany. Parentage ‘Jana’ × ‘Whisky Mac’. Introduced and registered in 1989 as a modern hybrid tea rose cultivar. |
| Awards and recognition |
Durbanville Gold Medal 1988; RNRS Edland Fragrance Medal and Certificate of Merit 1989; RHS Award of Garden Merit 2001, confirming strong ornamental and garden performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, well-branched bush reaching about 70–100 cm high and 50–70 cm across; dense, glossy dark green foliage; moderate thorns; forms a compact, easily managed shrub in borders. |
| Flower morphology |
Fully double, high-centred exhibition-type blooms with 26–39 petals, typically borne singly on stems; large-flowered (around 2.75–3.95 in), remontant with an abundant second flush in season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm peach-yellow to copper-peach flowers, ARS ab; RHS 22A outer, 23B inner; buds deep golden yellow, maturing to rich amber yellow, then fading to pastel creamy peach, especially in strong sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, characterful scent combining sweet, fruity notes with a deep rose fragrance; noticeable in the garden and indoors as a cut flower, enhancing sensory appeal throughout the flowering season. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces ovoid, orange-red hips about 10–14 mm across in moderate numbers; hips extend seasonal interest into autumn and may attract wildlife, especially if some spent blooms are left uncut. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about -26 to -23 °C (RHS H7; USDA 5b; Swedish zone 4); good heat tolerance with watering in drought; moderate overall disease resistance, with good black spot and rust resistance. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; occasional plant protection may be required. Recommended spacing 50 cm for groups, 40 cm for hedges, 80 cm as specimen; deadhead to encourage repeat bloom. |
VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – KOReklia offers fragrant exhibition blooms, compact form and steady, own-root longevity, making it a thoughtful choice if you want a classic rose that rewards simple, regular care.
