VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – KOReklia
Imagine sitting out with afternoon tea, sheltered from coastal gusts yet still enjoying the bright, sunny light, as VALENCIA ® perfumes the air with a fruity sweetness and warm, amber-peach blooms. This hybrid tea rose forms a compact, upright shape that fits perfectly beside a veranda screen or along a shingle path, where its dense, glossy foliage feels naturally at home and helps stabilise areas that often face brisk coastal breezes and shifting moisture conditions. Grown on its own roots in our practical 2-litre container, it settles in reliably, building a discreet framework in year one, stronger flowering shoots in year two, and a fully developed ornamental presence by year three. The elegant, high-centred flowers are excellent for cutting, so you can bring the colour and fragrance indoors after a walk on the beach, while its good cold hardiness and heat tolerance support a long, satisfying life in a typical family garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
| Small coastal front garden border |
The compact, upright habit and medium height allow VALENCIA ® to fit narrow coastal front gardens without overwhelming paths or windows, while its dense foliage copes reassuringly with brisk seaside breezes and variable moisture, ideal for beginners. |
| Feature rose beside a veranda windbreak |
The strong, characterful scent and high-centred, exhibition-style blooms turn a simple windbreak into a scented backdrop for outdoor seating, offering a sheltered, sunny spot where you can enjoy repeated flushes of flowers with modest care, suiting busy owners. |
| Cut-flower corner in a family garden |
Large, fully double blooms on long, upright stems provide a dependable source of apricot-peach roses for indoor vases, encouraging even novice gardeners to experiment with home-cut flowers without needing a full rose garden, attractive to homeowners. |
| Coastal-style mixed border with grasses |
VALENCIA ® partners well with airy grasses and silvery perennials, its warm colour playing against soft movement while its own-root vigour supports a long-lived structure that anchors the planting in exposed UK gardens, reassuring for coastal gardeners. |
| Sunny terrace in a large container |
In a 40–50 litre pot, its controlled spread and upright framework offer vertical interest and scent without dominating limited space, while the own-root system regenerates well if stems are damaged, an advantage for veranda owners. |
| Informal hedge along a shingle path |
Planted at hedge spacing, VALENCIA ® forms a gently repeating rhythm of peachy blooms and glossy foliage, and the resilient root system ensures plants knit into the soil structure over time, a practical solution for family gardens. |
| Heat-exposed, south-facing bed |
Good heat tolerance allows the flowers and foliage to remain attractive on south-facing walls or patios, as long as they receive sensible watering during prolonged dry spells, making seasonal care more predictable for hobby gardeners. |
| Long-term specimen near a seating area |
As an own-root shrub with strong hardiness, VALENCIA ® can mature into a stable, long-lived focal point that continues to flower generously for many years with moderate maintenance, suiting those who value enduring ornamental impact. |
Styling ideas
- Shingle Veranda Nook – Pair VALENCIA ® in a 50 litre container with blue Festuca and a low sea kale for a soft coastal palette – ideal for balcony and veranda owners seeking seaside character.
- Cutting Patch Trio – Group three plants at specimen spacing with Scabiosa and Artemisia for an airy, romantic cutting area – perfect for hobby gardeners who enjoy arranging their own flowers.
- Amber Path Hedge – Plant a loose line along a gravel path, underplanting with low grasses for movement – suited to families wanting structure that still feels relaxed and easy to live with.
- Sunny Patio Accent – Use a single plant as a focal point near outdoor seating, framed by terracotta pots of lavender for scent layers – attractive for busy owners who entertain outdoors.
- Coastal Mixed Border – Thread VALENCIA ® through a border of switchgrass, silver foliage and white perennials for a luminous, wind-resilient scheme – appealing to coastal-style lovers building a long-term garden.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose, registered as KOReklia, marketed as VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose. Belongs to the Hybrid Tea group, recognised in exhibition classes and for quality cut flowers. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm Kordes III in Germany from ‘Jana’ × ‘Whisky Mac’. Introduced and registered in 1989 by W. Kordes & Sons, reflecting classic German hybrid tea breeding traditions. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit (2001) for reliable garden performance, plus notable fragrance and show medals including Durbanville Gold Medal and RNRS Edland Fragrance Medal. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright hybrid tea shrub, typically 70–100 cm tall and 50–70 cm wide, with dense, dark green, glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; overall bushy yet refined, ideal for borders and specimens. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, fully double blooms with 26–39 petals, high-centred, pointed-budded hybrid tea form. Mostly solitary flowers on stems, with remontant habit and an abundant second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm peach-yellow to copper-peach tones, deep golden buds opening to rich amber yellow with peach sheen, later softening to creamy pastel shades; moderate colour retention in strong sunlight. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, sweet and fruity perfume with a deep traditional rose note. The fragrance is pronounced enough for seating areas and cut flowers, adding sensory value throughout the main flowering season. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces ovoid, orange-red hips around 10–14 mm across in moderate numbers, contributing subtle autumn interest and seasonal colour when some spent blooms are left un-deadheaded. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b). Good overall disease profile with resistance to black spot and rust, moderate mildew susceptibility, plus solid heat and drought tolerance. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well-drained soil; plant 40–80 cm apart depending on use. Requires occasional deadheading and plant protection in humid seasons; responds well to balanced feeding and mulching. |
VALENCIA ® – apricot hybrid tea rose – KOReklia combines compact form, sumptuous fragrance and rewarding cut flowers with the long-term stability of an own-root plant, making it a thoughtful choice for your next garden addition.