Rosa x floribunda Decorosier Opalia - Shrub Rose

The Decorosier Standard Rose Opalia is a variety of rose with excellent cluster flowering in every way: its flowering, made up of small semi-double flowers of pure white, is both early and endless, it offers exceptional resistance to diseases that has earned it the German ADR label, its always impeccable foliage persists during mild winters, and it requires little maintenance. Give it a prominent place in the garden or even in a large pot on the patio, it will be an exceptional decoration on its own for many years.

Standard roses are obtained by grafting a variety (in this case the Decorosier Opalia rose) onto a single and upright stem belonging to a different rose (Rosa canina, R. laxa or R. multiflora), with the graft being performed at the top. In very cold regions, it may be useful to protect the rootstock during winter.

The Decorosier Opalia rose belongs to the family of floribunda and polyantha roses, which produce flowers grouped in clusters. Grafted onto a stem, it has a characteristic habit, with a slender and upright 'trunk' carrying a large rounded crown. Its thorny stems bear glossy, well-furnished foliage, composed of small, tough, and toothed leaflets of dark green colour. Its flowering is abundant and regular from May to October-November if it is regularly pruned and well-watered. The semi-double flowers are grouped in clusters of about ten units and are 4 to 6 cm (2in) wide. The tightly closed buds open into open cups, revealing a small heart of yellow stamens. The rose is scentless. The plant will retain its leaves during winter if the weather is not too harsh.

The DECOROSIERS are shrub roses with a spreading habit. They can be used in many ways: lawn borders, flower beds, slopes, or planters. They can be planted in any type of soil, in sunny or semi-shaded areas. They offer exceptionally long and abundant flowering on healthy, shiny, and semi-evergreen foliage. Naturally resistant to diseases, they do not require treatment.

ADR is the label of the German Federation of Rose Breeders. The ADR designation is only granted to varieties that have passed the strictest tests in the world. The plants are tested simultaneously at 10 different locations, under various soil and climate conditions for several years. The tests assess hardiness, perennial nature, and flowering without the use of any pesticides.

This Opalia Standard Rose is a magnificent specimen, to be placed in the centre of a bed of delicate perennials, along a pathway, near the patio, in isolation in a well-maintained small garden, or in a large pot on the balcony. Its white colour pairs well with all the flowers in the garden. For example, it can be planted in the centre of a bed of pink groundcover roses (The Fairy, Astronomia...), alongside catmints, chamomiles, perennial salvias, foxgloves, nigellas, or baby's breath. A groundcover composed of silver baskets or aubrietas will perfectly enhance it.