MOONLIGHT ® – yellow climbing rose – Kordes
Sea-side moonlight, soft breeze and glowing petals – this elegant climbing rose wraps your veranda or garden in a calm, sunny atmosphere without demanding complicated care. Its strong, reliable growth and moderate maintenance needs suit coastal homes where steady roots help it cope with wind and weather, offering reassuring stability along fences, pergolas or walls. In a large 40–50 litre container or directly in the ground, the own-root plant settles in gently: first strengthening roots, then building confident shoots, and by the third year delivering its full ornamental presence in rich, repeat-flowering clusters. Long-lived and quietly resilient, it rewards regular but simple watering and feeding with years of mellow, golden colour and an inviting, fruity fragrance around your favourite seating spot.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Coastal veranda windbreak |
Trained along a balustrade or screen, this climber creates a sheltered corner that tempers brisk onshore winds while keeping the planting light and airy. Its secure, well-anchored framework copes well with exposed spots on breezy coasts, suiting coastal-style beginners. |
| Small family garden pergola |
On a compact pergola in an average family garden, its 2–3 m height gives overhead shade without overwhelming the space, while repeat flushes of yellow blooms add colour from early summer onwards. Care remains straightforward for busy garden owners. |
| Climbing accent on house wall |
Planted 40–50 cm from a sunny south or west-facing wall with good drainage, it can be fan-trained to frame doors or windows, softening brick or render with glossy foliage and moon-coloured flowers, appealing to style-conscious homeowners. |
| Large container on sheltered terrace |
In a 40–50 litre container with a sturdy trellis, it offers vertical colour where border space is limited. Regular watering and occasional feeding are usually enough to keep it flowering freely, ideal for time-pressed balcony gardeners. |
| Soft screen between neighbours |
Planted at 1.0–1.8 m intervals along a boundary, its medium-density foliage and clusters of blooms form a friendly, semi-transparent screen, giving privacy without feeling closed in – a gentle solution for neighbourly families. |
| Romantic arch over garden path |
Its flexible climbing growth and 2–3 m height suit a standard rose arch, where semi-double yellow flowers and rich fruity scent frame a path or play area, creating a welcoming focal point for family-focused gardeners. |
| Shingle or coastal-style border |
In free-draining, improved soil behind shingle or gravel, it partners naturally with sea kale and ornamental grasses, forming a luminous backdrop that copes calmly with breezy, salt-tinged air, reassuring for seaside garden owners. |
| Long-lived structural feature |
As an own-root climber it builds a durable framework that regenerates well from the base, so if a stem is damaged you can prune back and allow new growth without replanting – a practical comfort for low-maintenance enthusiasts. |
Styling ideas
- Moonlit Pergola – Train MOONLIGHT ® over a compact wooden pergola above a bistro set, combining with soft blue Nepeta x faassenii for a breezy “after the beach” tea corner – for relaxed coastal veranda users.
- Harbour Arch – Create a welcoming entrance by clothing a metal rose arch with MOONLIGHT ® and underplanting with silvery Festuca and sea kale for a shingle-garden feel – for seaside path and gateway designers.
- Sunny Wall Glow – Fan-train it against a south-facing house wall, paired with terracotta pots of lavender to echo its golden tones and fruity scent – for homeowners seeking simple wall softening.
- Container Lookout – Plant a single MOONLIGHT ® in a 50-litre tub with an obelisk, surrounding the base with low catmint to keep colour and scent near seating – for balcony and terrace gardeners.
- Dune Edge Screen – Use a loose row along a boundary with grasses and Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ for fiery accents against the yellow blooms, giving airy privacy – for families wanting gentle screening.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose from the Klettermaxe® collection; registered as KORklemol, marketed as Moonlight ® Klettermaxe® and MOONLIGHT ® – yellow climbing rose – Kordes; ARS exhibition name Moonlight®. |
| Origin and breeding |
Large-flowered climber bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes (W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany) from (unknown seedling × ‘Lichtkönigin Lucia’) × unknown pollen; bred 1995, registered 2006, introduced after 2006. |
| Awards and recognition |
Decorative climber with international trial success, including Tokyo Bronze Medal 2005, Belfast Gold Medal 2007 and The Hague International Rose Trials Bronze Certificate 2012. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Medium-vigorous climber reaching around 2.0–3.2 m high with 70–120 cm spread; medium-density, mid-green glossy foliage, moderately thorny canes and a climbing habit suited to arches, pergolas and walls. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cupped blooms with 13–25 petals, large-flowered clusters on growth; flowers repeatedly through the season with an abundant second flush; moderate self-cleaning so some deadheading is beneficial. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm golden-yellow blooms with subtle copper tones; buds open deep yellow with orange tinge, then lighten to pastel yellow, sometimes with pinkish-edged petals as they age, retaining moderate colour intensity in sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting scent with a rich, fruity character noticeable even in light breezes; semi-double form offers limited access to stamens, so overall pollinator attraction is modest rather than highly beneficial. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hips usually sparse due to semi-double flowers; when formed they are small, spherical, orange-red hips about 8–12 mm in diameter, adding a discreet seasonal accent rather than a dominant autumn display. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b; Swedish Zone 4); good heat tolerance, needing watering in prolonged drought; disease resistance medium, with focus on powdery mildew protection in humid spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; plant 100–180 cm apart depending on use; suit walls, pergolas, arches and arbours; maintain with light training, tying-in and seasonal pruning to renew flowering wood. |
MOONLIGHT ® offers rich fruity fragrance, luminous repeat-flowering colour and durable own-root growth for pergolas, walls and verandas; an inviting choice if you’d like a long-lived, gently impressive climbing rose.
