ASCHERMITTWOCH – white-lilac shaded climbing rose - Kordes
Along a breezy veranda or beside a shingle path, ASCHERMITTWOCH creates a calm, coastal refuge with its cool, smoky, white-lilac blooms and gently refreshing fragrance. This large-flowered climber is naturally suited to exposed gardens, giving reassuring structure and colour even where strong winds and salty air might test other roses, thanks to its reliable anchoring and resilient growth in challenging coastal conditions. Once settled, its dense foliage, long, arching canes and repeat-flowering habit frame your outdoor seating with soft shade and silvery light. Grown on its own roots in a practical 2-litre container, it is designed for a long garden lifespan, steady regeneration and reduced maintenance as it matures. Give it a generous 40–50 litre container or a well-drained spot in the ground, and you can expect a natural progression – strong roots in year one, confident shoots in year two, and full ornamental impact by year three, ideal for relaxed yet distinctive gardens where you would like atmosphere rather than constant upkeep.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Small coastal veranda windbreak |
The tall, climbing habit and dense leaf canopy create a gentle living screen for breezy Cornish or Devon verandas, offering privacy and shelter without feeling heavy or bulky for beginners. |
| Shingle or gravel seating corner |
Its cool silver-grey flowers and medium, refreshing scent complement pale shingle and sea-themed decor, providing a soft, elegant backdrop to evening tea without demanding complex pruning from hobby-gardeners. |
| Family garden pergola near the house |
Long, flexible canes train easily over a pergola, and repeat flowering through the season ensures ongoing interest where the family passes daily, rewarding light annual care for busy-owners. |
| Own-root feature in a large container |
In a 40–50 litre pot it develops a stable, long-lived framework; as an own-root rose it recovers well from weather damage or accidental pruning, keeping the display reliable for urban-gardeners. |
| Climbing accent on fences and trellises |
The combination of dense foliage and cluster-flowered, semi-double blooms quickly softens plain fencing, creating vertical interest in average-sized plots without overcrowding space-conscious homeowners. |
| Wall-trained rose for sheltered coastal patios |
Trained flat against a warm wall, it benefits from reflected heat yet still copes with breezy, salt-laden air, giving steady growth and structure that stands firm where strong winds can challenge coastal-lovers. |
| Cut-flower source with muted, sophisticated tones |
The large, cup-shaped blooms with unique ash-grey lilac colouring make characterful, medium-scented stems for vases, adding variety without the exacting demands of exhibition growers for style-conscious. |
| Pollinator-friendly yet tidy family corner |
Semi-double clusters offer moderate appeal to pollinators while remaining neat; occasional deadheading is enough to encourage further flowering and keep play areas pleasant for family-gardeners. |
Styling ideas
- Seaside-Veranda Arch – Train ASCHERMITTWOCH over a simple metal arch above a shingle path, pairing with sea kale and blue Festuca for a calm, wind-filtering entrance – ideal for coastal veranda owners.
- Tea-Corner Screen – Use two or three plants along a trellis behind a bistro set, underplanting with Mexican daisy to soften the base while its fragrance freshens afternoon tea – perfect for relaxed hobby gardeners.
- Container-Clad Balcony – In 50 litre tubs, let canes run along balcony wires, underplanted with low Ajuga for a cool, layered effect that stays manageable for time-pressed urban gardeners.
- Soft-Grey Pergola – Combine this rose over a wooden pergola with lavender and Gypsophila ‘Knuddel’ for a misty, romantic look that remains airy and bright for small family gardens.
- Wall-Washed Entryway – Fan-train against a sunny house wall, keeping the base open with pale gravel and a few coastal grasses to echo shorelines, suiting homeowners who prefer low-fuss structure.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
ASCHERMITTWOCH – white-lilac shaded climbing rose - Kordes; large-flowered climbing rose, exhibition climber type; unregistered cultivar with American Rose Society exhibition name Aschermittwoch. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, 1955; Rosa rubiginosa-hybrids crossed with ‘Ballet’ and ‘Fashion’; first introduced by W. Kordes’ Söhne in Germany. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong climbing growth to around 3.6–5.4 m high and 1.8–3 m spread; densely thorned canes; dense, matt green foliage giving good coverage on pergolas, fences and walls. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, semi-double, cup-shaped flowers with 13–25 petals, 7–10 cm across, borne in clusters; remontant with a lighter second flush, and weak self-cleaning so spent blooms benefit from removal. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Silvery grey-lilac shades with smoky, cool tones; buds slate-tinged, opening ash-grey lilac with mocha hints; flowers brighten towards silver-white and may fade more quickly in strong sun and heat. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium strength, clearly perceptible scent with a soft, delicate character; noticeable around seating areas without being overpowering, especially effective on warm but not excessively hot days. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional spherical orange hips, about 14–22 mm diameter, forming after flowering; not produced in abundance due to the semi-double form, but adding discrete late-season interest when present. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish Zone 3); disease resistance generally moderate with good black spot resistance, plus moderate tolerance of heat and temporary drought. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers a sunny position with well-drained soil; ideal for pergolas, fences and walls; plant 1.45–2.65 m apart depending on use; moderate maintenance with occasional plant protection where needed. |
ASCHERMITTWOCH offers tall, space-efficient vertical cover, cool smoky flowers and a gently refreshing scent, while its own-root form supports a long, reliable life in your garden, making it a thoughtful choice to consider.
