INNOCENCIA® – white groundcover rose – Kordes
With its low, spreading habit and sheets of pure white blooms, Innocencia® creates an instant sense of garden innocence and cottage-style charm in even the smallest family plot. Bred by Kordes for strong health, this rose is remarkably reliable in typical British conditions, coping well with exposed sites where strong winds and rain sweep in from the coast. Dense, glossy foliage and clusters of semi-double flowers give generous cover over borders, edges and banks, while the own-root form stays naturally balanced, regenerating easily and supporting a long, steady life in your garden. Plant once and enjoy an uncomplicated, low-pruning routine: a light tidy is all that is usually needed to keep it looking polished. In a large 40–50 litre container or at the front of a mixed bed, it offers a soft, storybook look that feels wonderfully romantic. Over time it strengthens its anchoring roots, building up from a modest first season to an impressively filled, enduring presence by the third year, rewarding busy gardeners seeking dependable ease.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front of cottage-style mixed border |
The low, spreading habit and dense, dark green foliage create a neat, billowing edge that hides bare soil and softens paving or lawn edges. Pure white, semi-double flowers tone easily with pastel perennials, ideal for a relaxed cottage look with minimal pruning – perfect for the busy home gardener. |
| Groundcover on banks and awkward slopes |
Innocencia® forms a broad, stabilising mat, its branching structure helping to hold soil while remaining compact enough for easy access. Own-root plants recover strongly if trimmed back, giving long-term cover without replanting, a practical option where mowing is difficult – especially useful for the time-pressed homeowner. |
| Low hedge along paths and driveways |
Planted at hedge spacing, the shrub’s uniform height and glossy foliage read as a low, flowering hedge that stays tidy with just a yearly trim. The reliable repeat flowering offers a welcoming, romantic approach to the house, without the need for specialist rose care – well suited to the traditional-style buyer. |
| Large containers and terrace planters (40–50 litres) |
Its moderate height and spreading habit fill big pots attractively without becoming top-heavy, while own-root resilience supports longer container life. Good disease resistance keeps foliage fresh even in confined city spaces, giving a calm, white focal point by a seating area – ideal for the urban balcony owner. |
| Family-friendly play garden edges |
The compact size makes it easy to place at the front of borders where children play nearby, avoiding towering, thorny growth. Light pruning removes spent shoots quickly, and the self-cleaning flowers reduce deadheading, so beds look cared for with little effort – appealing for the busy family gardener. |
| Low-maintenance mass planting in small to medium gardens |
Square or hexagonal planting at the recommended density gives rapid, even coverage without gaps. Once established, it demands only routine watering during dry spells and occasional shaping, while own-root durability supports a long planting life with stable flowering – reassuring for the low-maintenance seeker. |
| Part-shade spots near seating or garden structures |
Suited to partial shade, Innocencia® still flowers well where taller shrubs or fences cast light shade, making it a good choice under arbours or beside pergolas. The mild fragrance and soft white blooms enhance quiet seating areas used for afternoon tea – attractive to the romantic cottage gardener. |
| Urban front gardens and street-facing beds |
Bred for high disease resistance and recognised with ADR status, the variety stands up to pollution, reflected heat and compacted soils, remaining healthy where other roses falter. Its resilience includes coping with blustery, rain-lashed aspects in built-up streets, giving a smart appearance with minimum effort – ideal for the practical town homeowner. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic Border – Drift Innocencia® along a front border with lavender and garden catmint to create a soft, white-and-blue haze that feels timeless and gentle – for lovers of classic English cottage gardens.
- White-Themed Entrance – Line a path or drive with repeated Innocencia® and low box or yew for structure, giving a calm white welcome that stays tidy with minimal clipping – for homeowners wanting understated formality.
- Storybook Slope – Cover a sunny bank with Innocencia® and weave between clumps of Nepeta x faassenii, allowing the roses to spill while catmint softens gaps – for those taming awkward levels beautifully.
- Container Parlour – Plant Innocencia® in 40–50 litre tubs with trailing thyme or bacopa to fringe the rim, placing them by a bench or terrace table – for balcony and patio owners seeking low-care romance.
- Soft Urban Screen – Combine Innocencia® in bands with Japanese creeper or Virginia creeper on a back fence, using the white flowers to light up the base of climbers – for city gardeners greening small front plots.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Groundcover shrub rose from the RigoRosen® collection; registered as KORstarnow, marketed as Innocencia® / Innocencia™; ARS approved exhibition name Innocencia™, white ornamental bedding and groundcover type. |
| Origin and breeding |
Sport of Lorena® (KORlorena), bred by Wilhelm Kordes III, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany; bred 2002, registered 2002, introduced 2003, initially distributed by W. Kordes’ Söhne. |
| Awards and recognition |
ADR rose (Germany, 2003); Premio Roma Gold Medal 2002; Baden-Baden Silver Medal 2002; Le Roeulx Silver Medal 2002; Golden Rose of Hradec Králové 2007; Australian National Rose Trial Garden Certificate of Merit. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Low, spreading shrub 45–75 cm tall and 60–110 cm wide; dense, dark green glossy foliage, moderately thorny stems; good self-cleaning; suitable for edging, groundcover and mass planting in family gardens. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped clusters with 13–25 petals, medium-sized blooms around 4–7 cm; repeat flowering with a generous second flush; cluster-flowered trusses provide continuous coverage along stems in season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pure white with slight ivory centre; RHS 155D outer, 155C inner; buds greenish white with cream tint, fading only lightly to pale beige edges before petals drop; very good colour retention in sun and heat. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fresh, light fragrance of mild intensity; not overpowering near seating; semi-double, open form with accessible stamens offers partial pollinator value, attracting bees and other beneficial insects in sunny positions. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small spherical hips, around 6–10 mm, maturing to orange in autumn; produced sparsely so do not significantly affect flowering display or plant energy, but add a subtle seasonal accent when present. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Excellent disease resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; ADR-rated health. Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (USDA 5b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 4); tolerates heat and short dry periods with extra watering. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to groundcover, borders, edging, containers and urban plantings; plant 75–150 cm apart depending on use; tolerates partial shade; low maintenance with light pruning and routine watering once established. |
Innocencia® offers low, spreading white groundcover with strong health, easy upkeep and long own-root durability, making it a thoughtful choice for creating a calm, romantic corner in your garden.
