NEON ® – deep pink bedding floribunda rose – Kordes
Bring a touch of Neon brilliance to your garden with this compact floribunda that covers itself in clusters of flowers from early summer right into autumn. Its bushy, tidy habit and glossy dark green foliage make it perfect for small Irish front gardens and cottage-style beds where You want colour without fuss. Bred by Kordes, Neon is highly disease-tolerant, staying clean and attractive even in our humid, rainy weather and heavy soils where drainage can be a challenge. The vibrant deep pink blooms open cupped then flatten slightly, creating a glowing effect that is easy to admire from the path or patio. As an own-root plant, it forms a stable, long-lived bush that regenerates well if ever cut back hard, so You can rely on it season after season. In the first year it focuses on roots, in the second on strong shoots, and by the third year it shows its full ornamental value.
Use cases
| Target area | Reason |
|---|
| Front garden bed by the entrance |
The vibrant deep pink clusters stand out from a distance, giving an immediate welcome even in a small front garden. Compact height and bushy habit keep the planting neat and controlled, ideal where You want colour without blocking views for the homeowner. |
| Low edging along a path or driveway |
Neon’s 50–70 cm height and 40–60 cm spread make a tidy, low edging that defines paths and driveways without becoming leggy. Regular remontant flowering means the border stays colourful over months with only basic dead-heading for the busy-gardener. |
| Small group of 3–5 in a mixed cottage border |
Planted in a small group, Neon creates a dense block of deep pink that ties together perennials and shrubs. Its glossy foliage forms a reliable green backdrop, so even between flushes the border looks full and cared-for for the cottage-garden. |
| Urban front garden with traffic and pollution |
Originally selected for high-traffic urban beds, Neon copes well with city conditions. Its robust constitution and strong disease resistance keep it presentable beside roads and pavements, suiting the practical needs of the urban-gardener. |
| Easy-care family play garden |
With low maintenance needs and only slight prickliness, Neon works well near lawns and play areas where children pass by. It offers rich colour without demanding complex pruning or spraying, simplifying life for the family-gardener. |
| Sunny coastal front or exposed site |
This hardy floribunda tolerates wind and sun, provided the soil drains reasonably, making it suitable for brighter coastal gardens and open sites. Once established, it copes well if summers turn hot for the coastal-gardener. |
| Large container on patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container, Neon forms a rounded, floriferous bush that brings strong colour to paved spaces. Its steady growth and remontant flowering fit perfectly where You want a reliable, compact rose for the balcony-owner. |
| Long-term rose bed or mixed rose display |
As an own-root plant with ADR-level health, Neon is a sound choice for long-lived rose beds. Over the years it keeps a balanced bush form, offering dependable flowering structure for both beginners and more experienced rose-gardeners. |
Decorating ideas
- Neon Cottage Edge – Plant a low ribbon of Neon along the front of a cottage-style border, weaving between Geranium sanguineum and sweet alyssum for an easy, romantic look – ideal for relaxed cottage-garden fans.
- Urban Pink Focus – Use a tight group of three Neon roses in a small city front garden, underplant with Carex flacca ‘Blue Zinger’ for contrast and low upkeep – great for busy urban homeowners.
- Driveway Glow – Repeat single Neon plants at regular intervals along a short driveway, combining with compact lavender for fragrance and structure – perfect for those wanting a tidy, colourful entrance.
- Patio Showpiece Pot – Grow one Neon in a 40–50 litre terracotta container, underplant with trailing alyssum to soften the rim and echo the pink tones – suited to balcony and patio gardeners.
- Family-Friendly Colour Strip – Create a simple strip bed with Neon in front and low blue grasses behind, leaving clear lawn edges for play – made for families seeking bright colour with minimal maintenance.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bed rose from the RigoRosen collection. Registered as KORenon, marketed as Neon ® RigoRosen ® KORenon. Approved exhibition name Neon for floribunda bush rose classes. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm Kordes III at W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, from cross ‘Kiss’ × unknown seedling. Registered 1998 and introduced in Germany in 2001 through W. Kordes’ Söhne. |
| Awards and recognitions |
ADR Germany 1999 for health and performance. Gold Medals at Bagatelle, Paris and Hradec Králové 2004, Silver Medal Kortrijk 2004, Certificate of Merit at The Hague 2004 rose competition. |
| Growth and structure |
Compact, bushy shrub 50–70 cm high, 40–60 cm wide, slightly thorny with dense, glossy dark green foliage. Forms a rounded, well-branched plant suitable for beds, edging and low hedging. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double flowers with 26–39 petals, borne in clusters. Buds open cupped then flatten slightly, giving a full, generous bloom. Remontant, with a particularly abundant second flush in season. |
| Colour and phenology |
Closed buds vibrant cyclamen-pink, freshly opened blooms bright deep pink with gentler inner tones. Colour fades slowly to warm pink with lighter edges, maintaining good visual impact over the flowering period. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very faint fragrance, essentially barely scented. Selected primarily for strong colour effect and garden performance rather than perfume, making it suitable where colour is the key design requirement. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Occasional small, spherical red hips 6–10 mm in diameter may form late season, adding discrete interest without significantly affecting the plant’s overall flowering performance. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Excellent resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust. Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C, corresponding to RHS H7 and USDA zone 6b, performing well in exposed and colder Irish gardens. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with reasonably drained soil; water during prolonged dry spells. Plant 30–55 cm apart depending on use, at 8.2–9.4 plants/m² for mass beds. Maintenance low, requiring minimal specialist care. |
NEON ® offers intense deep pink colour, compact bushy growth and strong disease resistance on a long-lived own-root plant that settles reliably into family gardens, making it an easy, confident choice if You would like a straightforward rose to plant.
