LEMON FIZZ® – yellow landscape shrub rose – Kordes
Imagine stepping out after rain into a front garden washed clean, where clusters of lemon blooms sparkle against dense green foliage and cope calmly with blustery UK weather and changeable light; LEMON FIZZ® has been bred for reliable colour in family gardens, keeping its fresh, deep-yellow tones with minimal deadheading thanks to good self-cleaning flowers that simply drop away, while its semi-double, open shape helps bees and other pollinators find nectar quickly on busy city mornings; as an own-root shrub, it offers long-term stability and regeneration, settling in steadily so roots establish first, then stronger top growth follows, and by the third year you enjoy full ornamental impact with an easy, upright habit that suits narrow London front beds, rainwater-fed planters of at least 40–50 litres, and low hedges that stay naturally orderly without constant shaping.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Small front-garden flower bed |
The upright, bushy habit and medium height create a structured, low-maintenance presence that reads clearly from the pavement, providing long-lasting colour in limited space and helping define boundaries for busy urban garden owners |
| Low informal hedge along a path |
Recommended hedge spacing and naturally coherent growth allow you to form a soft, flowering edge that needs only light annual trimming, giving a familiar, traditional garden feel without complex pruning for homeowners seeking classic structure |
| 60–80 cm deep “girly” mixed border |
Semi-double yellow clusters combine easily with pinks and purples, while self-cleaning blooms reduce deadheading in tight borders, keeping the planting bright and neat with little effort for beginner hobby gardeners |
| Large container on balcony or doorstep |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot, the upright shrub form and reliable repeat flowering give strong impact from a single plant, especially when watered with saved rainwater to suit sustainability-minded city container gardeners |
| Pollinator strip by driveway or pavement |
Open, semi-double flowers with exposed stamens are easy landing pads for bees, offering accessible nectar and pollen through repeated flushes, supporting urban biodiversity for pollinator-conscious front-garden owners |
| Sunny, moisture‑managed clay border |
Once established in improved soil with good drainage, this shrub’s robust framework and reliable flowering cope with typical UK rain and wind in family gardens, rewarding simple, consistent care for practical low-fuss gardeners |
| Park or shared green space planting |
Its landscape-shrub character, ADR recognition and dependable colouring make it suitable for mass planting, where even, upright bushes create a coherent, long-lasting display for community and estate managers |
| Seasonal accent near seating area |
Frequent rebloom and vivid, non-fading yellow clusters provide a lively visual focus close to outdoor seating, keeping the space cheerful from early summer into autumn for families enjoying relaxed outdoor time |
Styling ideas
- Sunny-Frontage Harmony – Line a narrow London front bed with LEMON FIZZ®, weaving in soft pink Verbena hastata ‘Pink Spires’ for a gentle “girly” effect – ideal for terrace owners wanting charm from the street.
- Bee-Border Ribbon – Create a low ribbon of roses backed with lavender and nepeta, so open yellow blooms and purple spires form a pollinator corridor – for wildlife-focused gardeners with small plots.
- Doorstep-Glow Pot – Plant a single shrub in a 50‑litre frost-proof container, underplant with trailing thyme, and water mainly with saved rainwater – perfect for flat dwellers seeking easy front-door colour.
- Neat-Family Hedge – Use recommended hedge spacing and underplant with evergreen St John’s-wort for year-round structure beneath the flowers – suited to families wanting tidy boundaries with little fuss.
- Play-Space Accent – Place a bright LEMON FIZZ® cluster near a lawn corner, softened with airy grasses and crocosmia – for parents who want a cheerful focal point beside children’s play areas.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
LEMON FIZZ® (KORfizzlem), Modern Shrub (landscape shrub), shrub rose class; ARS exhibition name Lemon Fizz; commercial group bed rose; part of the NektarGarten® collection. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes at W. Kordes’ Söhne from unnamed seedlings; introduced 2014 in the USA by Newflora LLC, with US Plant Patent PP 24 195 granted the same year. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds prestigious ADR status (2015), plus American Garden Rose Selections recognition; awarded 3rd prize at Baden‑bei‑Wien trials and a silver medal at the Monza international rose trials. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy shrub reaching about 85–120 cm tall and 70–95 cm wide, with moderately thorny stems and dense, slightly glossy, medium- to dark-green foliage giving a full, landscape-ready appearance. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, flat blooms with 13–25 petals, medium-sized clusters on branching stems; remontant character provides an abundant second flush following the main summer display, with good natural self-cleaning of spent flowers. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Vibrant deep yellow blooms (RHS 11A–12A) hold colour well; buds open intense lemon-yellow, maturing to sunshine yellow with golden centres and little fading, retaining a bright effect in strong sunlight. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
No noticeable fragrance; selected chiefly for reliable colour, landscape performance and open, nectar-accessible flower form that supports pollinator activity rather than for scented garden use. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally forms small, spherical hips about 5–7 mm in diameter, orange-red (RHS 40A) when ripe; hips are incidental to overall effect and not a major ornamental feature of this cultivar. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Fully hardy to approximately −32 to −29 °C (RHS H7, USDA 4b, Swedish zone 5) with good cold resilience; heat tolerance is moderate, needing regular watering in extended dry spells to maintain vitality. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for beds, edging, low hedges, containers and urban green spaces; suitable for partial shade. Plant at 55–100 cm depending on use, and apply regular plant protection due to low disease resistance. |
LEMON FIZZ® offers vivid, long-lasting yellow colour, an upright, space-efficient shrub form and pollinator-friendly blooms in a durable own-root rose, making it a considered choice for long-term family gardens and small urban spaces.
