NINA™ – cream-coloured nostalgic rose – Olesen & Olesen
Softly romantic yet reassuringly robust, NINA™ settles into a family garden with a bushy, upright habit and generous clusters of rosette blooms that bring a sense of afternoon-tea cosiness to even modest borders. The creamy, vanilla-tinted flowers repeat reliably through summer, creating a storybook focal point along paths, beside sheds or framing a kitchen-garden fence, while the dense, dark green foliage lends an easy, finished look with very little fuss. As an own-root plant, it builds strength gradually below and above ground, rewarding patient gardeners with a long-lived, steadily improving display in the seasons ahead. It copes well with typical British weather, staying composed even where gardens are regularly brushed by brisk coastal winds and rain. In a simple 2-litre container, it is straightforward to plant and establish, whether you are refreshing a mixed border, forming a short hedge or filling a cottage-style gap near a terrace. Over time it becomes a quietly reliable presence, needing only basic seasonal care to keep its nostalgic flowers, glossy foliage and elegant structure in balance, making it particularly welcoming for beginners who prefer charm without complicated routines.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Small cottage-style border near a terrace or seating area |
The compact, bushy, upright habit fits neatly into short runs of border without overwhelming nearby plants, while the repeat-flowering, cream to vanilla blooms and strong fragrance create a close-up, romantic focal point for relaxed seating areas and afternoon tea settings for the busy homeowner. |
| Low, informal hedge along paths, drives or vegetable plots |
Planted at the recommended spacing, the dense, glossy foliage and upright structure knit together into a softly formal yet nostalgic low hedge, offering gentle screening and a coherent backdrop for kitchen gardens and front paths with only moderate pruning needed by the time-conscious gardener. |
| Mixed cottage border with perennials and ornamental grasses |
NINA™ combines well with coneflowers, heucheras and fine grasses, its cream blooms and dark green leaves providing calm structure among looser perennials while maintaining flowering presence through summer on a medium-maintenance shrub that suits the romantic border lover. |
| Feature rose in a large container on patios or balconies |
In a 40–50 litre container or larger, the compact, erect form and moderate height allow for a strong vertical accent without dominating small spaces, while own-root vigour supports long-term pot culture with straightforward seasonal feeding for the urban balcony owner. |
| Family garden near play areas and frequently used spaces |
The robust shrub framework and moderate thorniness, combined with reliable repeat flowering and tidy growth, make it suited to family gardens where children play nearby, as it offers beauty and sensory interest without demanding intricate care from the practical parent. |
| Sites with exposure to wind and frequent rain |
The sturdy, upright bush structure and dense foliage cope well with unsettled weather, making it suitable for gardens where brisk, rain-laden winds are common, helping maintain an orderly, long-term presence for the coastal gardener. |
| Traditional, low-input cottage planting schemes |
Own-root growth supports a long lifespan and good regeneration after routine pruning, so once established the shrub simply settles into the scene and returns each year with dependable flowering, serving gardeners who prefer light, seasonal tasks and minimal fuss for the nostalgia enthusiast. |
| Borders planned for gradual development over several seasons |
This cultivar suits gardeners who enjoy watching plants mature, as it establishes its roots in the first year, builds stronger shoots in the second, and reaches full ornamental effect by the third, rewarding patient, forward-planning choices by the thoughtful planner. |
Styling ideas
- Kitchen-garden hedge – Line the edge of vegetable beds at the recommended hedge spacing, pairing NINA™ with soft herbs and low lavender for a gently structured, scented boundary – ideal for cottage-vegetable growers.
- Pastel tea corner – Place one plant in a large container beside a bistro set and underplant with trailing violas, letting the cream blooms frame an intimate tea spot – perfect for patio relaxers.
- Romantic mixed border – Combine with Rudbeckia, heucheras and Stipa tenuissima for a textured, late-summer picture where NINA™ provides calm, creamy anchors among shifting perennials – suited to cottage-style enthusiasts.
- Front-garden welcome – Use as paired shrubs either side of a path or gate, letting the upright habit and soft colour greet visitors while remaining proportionate to an average front garden – good for kerb-appeal seekers.
- Storybook focal group – Plant three in a loose triangle within a small lawn island, surrounding them with spring bulbs and low groundcover to build a year-round, fairy-tale feel – appealing to romantic traditionalists.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Shrub rose from the Renaissance® collection; registered as POUlren018, marketed as NINA™ Renaissance® POUlren018, a nostalgia-style romantic rose suited to garden and feature planting. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by L. Pernille Olesen and Mogens Nyegaard Olesen at Poulsen Roser A/S, Denmark; bred 2006, registered 2006, introduced 2007, with parentage not publicly disclosed. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, erect shrub to about 100–150 cm tall and 70–120 cm wide, with moderately thorny shoots and dense, dark glossy foliage (RHS 137A) giving a full, well-clothed appearance. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, rosette-shaped blooms with over 40 petals, large-flowered clusters on stems; remontant habit delivering a plentiful second flush after the main early-summer flowering. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Cream-coloured base with a delicate vanilla veil; butter-yellow centres on opening fade to cream-ivory with subtle beige tints at petal edges, with excellent colour retention through the bloom’s life. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Classed as a strongly scented, long-lasting rose; fragrance description is not fully characterised but intended as a notable feature for near-seating and pathside planting. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose-hip set is usually low due to very double flowers; where formed, small 10–15 mm, globular orange-red hips (RHS 40A) may appear late in the season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7; Swedish zone 3; USDA 6b); disease data indicate resistance to black spot with moderate tolerance of powdery mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Medium maintenance shrub needing occasional pest and disease checks; recommended planting distances: 60 cm for masses, 55 cm for hedges, 100 cm as a specimen, at around three plants per square metre. |
NINA™ offers romantic cream rosettes, a compact, family-garden-friendly shrub form and long-term reliability, while its own-root nature supports lasting vigour and easy regeneration, making it a considered choice for your next planting decision.
