SHEHERAZADE® – pink floribunda bedding rose – Kimura
Step out after rain and let Sheherazade draw you along a path of lingering perfume, its compact, bushy habit naturally suited to breezier sites where showers and wind quickly clear the air. The large, cup-shaped blooms begin a vibrant pink and soften through lilac-toned petals to a misty, romantic blush, creating depth even in the smallest front garden. Bred by Kimura for abundant, repeat flowering, this floribunda forms a neat, low hedge or a refined container feature by your doorstep. Own-root planting supports a long-lived, regenerating structure that stays reliable over the years with simple seasonal pruning. As roots establish, top growth follows – think quiet first year, fuller second, and a truly settled ornamental presence by year three. Its sparsely thorned stems make day-to-day care less daunting for beginners, while premium breeding and trial-proven quality reward anyone seeking an easy-care, fragrant rose that fits a sustainable, rainwater-led city garden.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front-garden specimen near the door |
The very strong, lingering fragrance is ideal beside a path or doorway where you pass daily, and the compact, bushy habit keeps it in scale with a London terrace frontage without blocking light or access, suiting fragrance lovers and doorstep gardeners alike |
| Low, informal flowering hedge |
Regular, abundant repeat flowering and a mid-green, moderately dense leaf canopy create an airy, low hedge that frames paths or divides small plots, with sparse prickles making clipping and access less troublesome for families and casual pruners alike |
| Mixed border in a family garden |
The compact 70–100 cm height and 50–80 cm spread slot neatly into mixed borders, allowing easy underplanting with thyme or calamint while leaving room for children’s play space, an advantage for time-pressed family gardeners alike |
| Large container on patio or balcony |
Its tidy, upright shape and generous flower size make a strong statement in a 40–50 litre or larger pot, where controlled soil and watering suit busy urban owners who want impact but limited ground to plant into alike |
| Elegant, repeated planting rhythm in beds |
Consistent colour, clustered blooms and recommended spacings of 45–55 cm allow you to repeat plants for a graceful, ordered rhythm that keeps small gardens coherent, helpful for design-conscious beginners and symmetry seekers alike |
| Own-root, long-term garden investment |
The own-root form helps the shrub regrow evenly after pruning or weather damage, supporting a stable outline and long lifespan, with a quiet establishment phase leading to dependable ornamental value over several years for patient planners alike |
| Coastal or wind-exposed urban plots |
The compact, bushy structure and moderate hardiness cope well where open aspects bring regular breeze and showers, helping maintain flower display without excessive staking or fuss for pragmatic, weather-aware gardeners alike |
| Peat-free, rainwater-conscious front garden |
A strong, structural shrub in balanced proportions suits deeper, amended planting pockets that capture rain from roofs and paving, reducing run-off while keeping maintenance simple for sustainability-minded city gardeners alike |
Styling ideas
- Doorway – Plant a single Sheherazade in a generous pot by the front step, underplant with creeping thyme to soften the rim – ideal for fragrance-focused city dwellers.
- Ribbon – Create a loose, low ribbon hedge along a path at 45–55 cm spacing, interspersed with cypress spurge – suited to small-family gardens wanting subtle structure.
- Pastel – Combine Sheherazade with pale nepeta and soft grasses for a hazy, romantic look – for terrace owners seeking a gentle, “girly” front border.
- Contrast – Set the pink, lilac-flushed blooms against dark containers or slate chippings, with silver thyme around the base – perfect for modern, minimalistic urban plots.
- Court – Repeat three plants in a triangle in a square bed, edging with low herbs to form a scented courtyard focal point – for beginners wanting simple but polished design.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Sheherazade® Bedding rose KIMteller, floribunda/modern shrub, bed rose; ARS exhibition name Sheherazad; registered cultivar name KIMteller, premium gold quality in the eleanorROSE ORIGINAL 2-litre range. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Takunori Kimura in Japan, 2013, from cross ‘Urara’ × ‘Jubilee Celebration’; registered 2015 and introduced after 2015 via André Eve Roses Anciennes, supporting modern garden performance. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly commended in international fragrance trials: Silver Medal at Nagaoka 2014, “Most Fragrant Rose” and Bronze Medal at Gifu 2016, plus Perfume Cup and Certificate of Merit at Monaco 2018. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Compact, bushy shrub rose reaching about 70–100 cm high and 50–80 cm wide, with moderately dense, mid-green, matt foliage and sparsely thorned stems, making handling and routine care more straightforward. |
| Flower morphology |
Clustered, large double, cup-shaped blooms with around 26–39 petals; remontant with abundant second flush, providing generous displays on each stem during the main season in typical family gardens. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Pink flowers with delicate violet-lilac flush; ARS pink blend, RHS 68A outer and 70B inner. Buds vibrant pink, softening to mid-pink then pale pink with grey-lilac tinges, holding better colour in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, long-lasting scent recognised by multiple fragrance trial awards; considered a perfumed ornamental with only partial pollinator value due to fully double flower form and restricted stamen accessibility. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate numbers of small, ellipsoid orange-red hips, roughly 8–12 mm in diameter, adding quiet autumn interest without overwhelming the shrub or significantly increasing maintenance tasks. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated to approximately −21 to −18 °C, RHS H7, USDA zone 6b, Swedish zone 3; disease resistance medium to black spot, mildew and rust, requiring standard preventative care in humid or high-pressure seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions for borders, containers and specimens; plant 45–85 cm apart depending on use, 3.3–3.8 plants/m² for massing, with medium maintenance involving regular feeding and pruning. |
SHEHERAZADE® offers compact, container-friendly growth, abundant repeat flowering and award-winning fragrance on a resilient own-root framework, making it a thoughtful long-term choice for a small, sustainable garden you will enjoy living with.
