NOVALIS® – lavender-lilac nostalgia rose – Kordes
A true romantic for Irish gardens, NOVALIS® combines easy-care charm with refined, lavender-lilac blooms that look beautifully nostalgic without demanding fussy attention. Its compact, upright growth sits perfectly in smaller beds and front gardens, giving You a tidy, bushy shrub that lends structure all year round. Large, very double flowers appear in generous flushes, creating an impressively full display from early summer onwards. Introduced by the renowned Kordes breeding programme and backed by major European trial awards, this rose offers reassuringly reliable garden performance. As an own-root plant, it settles in, regenerates well and supports a long-lived, stable planting that matures gracefully over time. Ideal for Irish conditions, it copes well with our humid weather when given reasonable air flow and care, and it responds happily to regular but straightforward watering. NOVALIS® fits beautifully into romantic cottage-style schemes, edging paths or framing entrances where You want impactful yet manageable colour. Over the first three seasons it focuses on roots, then shoots, then full ornamental value, so You can enjoy watching a maturing shrub grow into its place in your garden.
Use cases
| Target area | Reason |
|---|
| Front garden focal shrub near the entrance |
The compact, upright habit forms a neat, bushy presence that stays in proportion to smaller Irish front gardens, giving a welcoming, well-framed look without outgrowing its place – ideal for the busy homeowner |
| Romantic nostalgia-style flower bed |
Very double, lavender-lilac rosette blooms give an old-fashioned, fairy-tale feel, perfect for cottage-style borders where continuous waves of soft colour are more important than complex maintenance – appealing to the romantic |
| Low-maintenance family garden rose group (3–5 plants) |
Planting small groups creates a generous bank of colour with medium maintenance needs; occasional deadheading and simple feeding are enough to keep the shrubs performing well for years – reassuring for the beginner |
| Long-lived structure plant in a mixed border |
As an own-root shrub, NOVALIS® builds up a robust framework and can regenerate from its base, giving a stable, long-term presence amongst perennials and grasses that supports sustainable garden design – attractive to the planner |
| Decorative rose for Irish coastal or exposed gardens |
Good overall resilience means it copes reliably where gardens face cool winds and damp air, handling our often wet, changeable weather provided drainage is reasonable and foliage can dry – practical for the coastal |
| Cut-flower rose for indoor arrangements |
The large, very double rosette blooms look luxurious in vases, their cool lavender tones pairing well with white and silver foliage, so You can enjoy garden colour indoors with a mild, unobtrusive scent – delightful for the stylist |
| Patio or balcony container planting |
Its moderate height and upright shape suit a substantial pot of at least 40–50 litres, where regular watering and feeding will reward You with repeated flushes of nostalgic colour on a tidy, manageable shrub – convenient for the urbanite |
| Small-space edging or low informal hedge |
With recommended spacings, NOVALIS® creates a soft, colourful edging that defines paths or lawn margins while staying relatively narrow and easy to clip, ideal where You want order without harsh lines – helpful to the organiser |
Decorating ideas
- Cottage Border Drift – Plant NOVALIS® in a loose line with foxgloves and soft geraniums to create a romantic, slightly wild front-garden border – for cottage-garden lovers seeking gentle structure.
- Lavender Path Edging – Combine small groups with lavender or rosemary along a path, letting the cool lilac tones echo the aromatic foliage – for gardeners who enjoy low-maintenance, fragrant walks to the front door.
- Silver and Lilac Calm – Pair NOVALIS® with silver-leaved plants like artemisia and soft grasses for a calm, modern nostalgia bed – for busy homeowners wanting serene colour with straightforward care.
- Patio Feature Pot – Place one plant in a 40–50 litre terracotta pot, underplant with trailing thyme and seasonal violas for a long-flowering patio highlight – for balcony and terrace users with limited space.
- Evening Reading Corner – Use NOVALIS® beside a bench, with white hydrangeas and low sedges, so pale blooms catch the dusk light and extend garden enjoyment – for those who relax outdoors after work.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Trade name NOVALIS® – Fairytale Roses®, registered as KORfriedhar, a romantic shrub-floribunda nostalgia rose suited to garden and exhibition use, recognised under the American Rose Society exhibition name Novalis. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes in Germany in 2004 and introduced after 2011 by W. Kordes’ Söhne; parentage recorded as unknown × unknown, part of the Fairytale Roses® and Romantic rose collections. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Holds the ADR Award from Germany (2013), SNHF Grand Prix de la Rose Premier Prix in France (2014), and a Silver Medal from La Tacita International Trial in Italy (2015), confirming strong ornamental and garden merit. |
| Growth and structure |
Forms an upright, bushy shrub 70–100 cm high and 35–55 cm wide, with moderately thorny shoots and dense, slightly glossy light green foliage, giving tidy structure for beds, borders and low hedging in family gardens. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette flowers with over 40 petals, usually borne singly on stems; remontant habit provides a free second flush, making it suitable for repeat colour in garden plantings and for cutting. |
| Colour and phenology |
Soft lavender-blue and mauve-lilac tones with a powdery bloom; buds open deep mauve-purple, then become frosted greyish-lilac with silvery edges, lightening slightly in strong sun while remaining more vivid in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, restrained perfume with a gentle lavender character that complements, rather than dominates, seating areas and cut arrangements; fragrance is noticeable close up but not overpowering around windows or patios. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Produces moderate numbers of small, spherical red hips, about 8–12 mm in diameter, adding a discreet autumn accent without significantly impacting repeat flowering or overall garden display. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); disease resistance is medium to common fungal issues, with good heat tolerance and moderate drought tolerance if watered during prolonged dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers sunny positions with reasonable drainage; spacing from 25–45 cm depending on use. Maintenance is medium, with occasional plant protection and deadheading advisable to sustain flowering and foliage quality in Irish gardens. |
NOVALIS® offers romantic lavender-lilac blooms, compact tidy growth and proven award-winning garden performance, while its own-root form supports long-lived, reliable shrubs; an excellent choice if You would like a dependable rose to settle into your garden.
