CHEVREUSE – apricot climbing rose – Kordes
Imagine your London front garden framed by a softly apricot curtain of blooms: CHEVREUSE is a bushy, medium-sized climbing rose that feels instantly balanced and quietly luxurious rather than showy. Its warm peach-yellow flowers open in generous clusters along upright, manageable canes, creating an inviting vertical backdrop that copes calmly with blustery weather and coastal showers in small urban plots. Bred by Kordes, it repeats with impressive reliability from early summer onwards, so there is always another flush of colour on the way. Own-root cultivation means the plant is inherently stable and long-lived, able to regenerate from its base after pruning or weather damage and to maintain full ornamental value for many seasons. In containers of at least 40–50 litres or directly into the ground, CHEVREUSE settles in steadily – think strong roots in year one, more confident shoots in year two, and a fully furnished wall of colour by year three – with only straightforward, occasional care needed for busy gardeners.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Narrow London front garden façade |
Ideal where space is tight but you want a welcoming entrance: its moderate height and bushy, upright canes clothe railings or trellis without overwhelming paving, and cope well with showery, breezy conditions typical of exposed town streets, suiting the busy urban garden owner. |
| Rainwater-conscious urban planting strip |
Planted into improved heavy clay beside a soakaway or rain garden, this own-root climber develops a durable framework that channels interest upwards, leaving ground space for permeable gravel and perennials, helping you manage rainfall without complex landscaping, perfect for the sustainability-focused homeowner. |
| Balcony or roof-terrace container (40–50 L+) |
In a large, stable container, CHEVREUSE forms a refined vertical accent with glossy foliage and soft peach clusters, giving long-season colour on railings or screens; own-root vigour ensures it recovers well from pruning and wind, making life easier for the time-poor city gardener. |
| Family seating area backdrop |
Its mild, fruity fragrance and soft, pastel flowers create a calm, “girly” backdrop for a small patio or seating nook, while the structured, upright growth stays tidy around furniture and play areas, offering a soothing setting for the family garden beginner. |
| Low-maintenance decorative screen |
Trained on wires or a simple trellis, this climber quickly forms a leafy, semi-evergreen-feeling screen in the season, with repeat flowering that keeps walls, fences or bin stores attractive with only basic tying-in and annual pruning, well suited to the practical homeowner. |
| Soft-coloured front boundary with perennials |
Along a front fence, its clustered apricot flowers mix effortlessly with lavender, sage or nepeta, giving a long, rhythmical display that coordinates with cottage-style planting while the own-root base provides reassuring longevity for the styling-conscious hobby gardener. |
| Feature pillar or obelisk rose |
Its bushy habit and medium-length canes are easy to spiral around a pillar or obelisk, producing a column of colour that repeats well through summer; moderate prickles still allow straightforward training, a comfortable project for the confident novice gardener. |
| Clay or chalky suburban garden border |
With moderate disease resistance and a strong framework, CHEVREUSE establishes reliably in typical UK clay or chalk when drainage is improved, then offers long-term structure and colour without needing fussy feeding regimes, reassuring for the low-maintenance-focused buyer. |
Styling ideas
- Soft-Frontage Arch – Train CHEVREUSE over a slim metal arch flanking a terraced-house path, underplant with lavender and thyme for scent, ideal for the London homeowner wanting a welcoming, feminine entrance.
- Peach-Pergola Walkway – Use two or three plants along a short pergola, weaving canes overhead and pairing with nepeta and ornamental grasses, suited to families seeking a light, airy garden tunnel without heavy upkeep.
- Balcony-Veil Planter – In a 50-litre trough, fan shoots onto a bamboo lattice to create a soft privacy veil, combined with dwarf sage and herbs, perfect for renters making the most of a small balcony.
- Pastel-Border Screen – Line a back fence with CHEVREUSE and interplant with foxgloves and pale salvias to form a layered, cottage-style backdrop, attractive to those who prefer gentle colour harmony over bold contrasts.
- Winter-Texture Contrast – Let CHEVREUSE climb behind Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ and evergreen grasses so summer blooms give way to striking stems in winter, appealing to gardeners who appreciate subtle, year-round structure.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose, large-flowered climber; registered as KORplavi, sold as Chevreuse Climbing rose KORplavi; ARS exhibition name Westfalenpark®, shrub rose exhibition category. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, around 1986; parentage recorded as unknown × ‘Las Vegas’ (1972 hybrid tea); introduced by Kordes in European markets. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Medium climber with strong, upright, bushy shoots reaching about 160–240 cm high and 120–200 cm wide; dense, glossy dark green foliage; moderately thorny canes suitable for training. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, cup-shaped blooms with around 26–30 petals, produced mainly in clusters; large flowers (approximately 2.75–3.95 in), repeating well with an abundant second flush in suitable conditions. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm, soft peach with yellowish tint; buds light apricot-orange; newly opened blooms pastel peach-yellow; colour gently fades to creamy, buttery yellow while retaining a harmonious, refined appearance on the plant. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, fresh fruity fragrance that gently perfumes nearby seating areas without overpowering confined spaces; best appreciated at close range along paths, entrances or on terraces. |
| Hip characteristics |
Forms few hips due to double flowers; small, spherical fruits about 8–12 mm across, ripening to orange-red (RHS 33A), adding modest late-season interest without heavy self-seeding. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b); moderate resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; benefits from good air circulation and standard rose hygiene. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Maintenance medium: annual pruning, tying in and occasional disease checks; space 140–240 cm depending on use; prefers improved, well-drained soil, thriving in typical UK family gardens and larger containers. |
CHEVREUSE – apricot climbing rose – Kordes offers long-season peach blooms, manageable height and lasting own-root robustness for compact front gardens; consider it if you want gentle vertical colour with straightforward care.
