ALASKA® – cream-white climbing rose - Kordes
The climbing rose Alaska® brings a sense of balance and calm to compact London front gardens and small family plots, with large, creamy-white blooms that repeat generously from early summer into autumn on manageable, upright canes. Its reliable flowering makes it easy to enjoy as a graceful vertical accent over a gate, fence or arch without demanding complicated pruning, while its proven hardiness shrugs off typical UK winters and brisk coastal winds. As an own-root rose it settles in for a long life, quietly rebuilding from the base if stems are damaged and keeping its shape and display steady over the years with minimal intervention. In heavier urban soils you simply need to give it a well-prepared planting hole so it copes confidently with wet spells and improved drainage on heavy clay after prolonged rain, leaving you free to enjoy the soft colour shifts from ivory bud to pearly white bloom. Over time Alaska® rewards patient, low-effort care: in the first year its roots establish, in the second the shoots build up, and by the third season you can expect full ornamental value and a mature, curtain-like display of roses.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Small London front garden climber |
Alaska® is ideal for a narrow front garden where space is limited but vertical surfaces are available, giving a refined, creamy-white screen on railings or a short trellis without overwhelming the façade, well suited to the time-poor urban homeowner seeking easy-care. |
| Family pergola or arch rose |
Its medium-height climbing habit and very double, clustered flowers make a romantic choice for a pergola or arch, creating a sheltered, fragrant walkway that is safe and reliable over many years thanks to the long-lived stability of its own-root growth, perfect for families desiring longevity. |
| Rainwater-conscious terrace or patio pot |
Planted in a 40–50 litre container with good drainage, Alaska® works well in rainwater-fed urban spaces, coping steadily when downpours run off roofs and patios, and managing the typical British pattern of showers and occasional dry spells for balcony gardeners who prioritise sustainability. |
| Cream-white feature on heavy clay |
Given a well-prepared planting hole, this climber establishes reliably even on heavier clay, its structured roots helping it handle wet winters while still delivering elegant, pearly blooms that lighten dense boundaries, attractive to householders contending with dense soil who appreciate robustness. |
| Wind-exposed coastal fence |
The combination of strong canes and dependable hardiness allows Alaska® to perform on breezier, more exposed boundaries, where many roses struggle, offering a calm pale backdrop that remains steady in coastal gusts and damp air for gardeners needing resilience. |
| Romantic “girly” entrance with pastels |
Its soft cream-white flowers, lightly flushed in pink, harmonise beautifully with pastel verbena, gypsophila or iris, giving a gentle, feminine entrance that feels polished rather than fussy, ideal for front-garden stylists who enjoy elegance. |
| Cut flowers from a compact climber |
The high-centred, very double blooms resemble traditional cut roses and last well in the vase, allowing you to harvest stems from a modestly sized climber rather than a sprawling rambler, appealing to home florists who value versatility. |
| Wildlife-aware ornamental planting |
While its full flowers are mainly ornamental rather than pollinator-focused, the structure and foliage offer perching and shelter, and occasional small hips appear, fitting into mixed schemes that balance beauty with habitat for those gardening with gentle conscience. |
Styling ideas
- Front-Door Frame – Train Alaska® over a slim arch set just inside a terraced-house gate, underplant with lavender and soft grasses for movement and scent – for urban homeowners wanting a quietly romantic welcome.
- Pastel Screen – Grow along a low boundary fence with Verbena hastata ‘Pink Spires’ and gypsophila to create a light, “girly” veil of blooms – for those softening hard front-garden lines without high maintenance.
- Courtyard Column – Spiral Alaska® up a sturdy obelisk in a 50-litre pot, with trailing nepeta at the base to cool the roots and attract bees nearby – for balcony and patio gardeners seeking vertical impact in limited space.
- Family Pergola – Plant at the posts of a small seating pergola, pairing with sage and low ornamental grasses to keep the look airy – for families who want a long-lived, calm corner for evening unwinding.
- Elegant Fence – Space plants along a sunny fence at 1.5 m intervals to form a soft cream-white backdrop for perennials in pinks and blues – for hobby gardeners designing a balanced, timeless garden palette.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Large-flowered climbing rose, Collection Klettermaxe®, registered as KORjoslio, traded as Alaska® Klettermaxe®; approved ARS exhibition name ‘Future’, commercial climber type. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes (W. Kordes & Sons, Germany) from ‘Moonlight’ × unnamed seedling; bred 2005, introduced 2014 with EU PBR and later US plant patent protection. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated climber with major awards including Bagatelle Certificat de Mérite (2014), multiple Gold Medals, and Best Climber titles at La Tacita (2016) and Belfast (2018). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Medium-vigorous climber reaching about 180–280 cm in height and 80–160 cm spread, with moderately dense, slightly glossy mid-green foliage and moderate thorniness, suited to walls, arches and pergolas. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double, high-centred blooms with 40+ petals borne mainly in clusters; strong remontant habit with an abundant second flush, flowers typically 2.75–3.95 inches in diameter on well-grown plants. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cream-white blooms with subtle pink veiling on bud edges; colour holds very well with minimal fading, moving from buttery-centred cream to uniform pearly white; RHS 155C outer and 155D inner petal tones. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fragrance is mild and delicately sweet, offering a discreet background scent rather than a powerful perfume, making it suitable near seating or windows where a restrained, non-overpowering aroma is preferred. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is usually sparse due to very double blooms; when present, hips are small, spherical, approximately 7–11 mm in diameter, and mature to an attractive orange-red that adds discreet late-season interest. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7 with approximate hardiness to around −21 to −18 °C; tolerates heat and moderate drought well; disease resistance is medium, with occasional protection advisable against black spot, mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions with free-draining soil; medium maintenance, including some deadheading and training; spacing 140–240 cm depending on use, planting density about 0.4–0.5 plants/m² for structural coverage. |
Alaska® Klettermaxe® KORjoslio offers reliable repeat flowering, proven winter hardiness and a long-lived own-root framework that suits small family gardens and thoughtful urban spaces, making it a considered choice for your next climbing rose.
