Lunara

Full description:

Most climbing roses dress a garden in familiar colours: pink, red, cream or white. Lunara takes a different direction. Its purple-violet flowers introduce a cooler, more mysterious shade, creating something unexpected among the usual colours of summer.

Introduced by W. Kordes' Söhne in 2026 as part of the Climbing Max® collection, Lunara brings a contemporary character to vertical garden spaces. Its semi-double flowers, approximately 7–8 cm across, open naturally in small clusters, creating striking patches of violet against large, leathery green leaves.

Fragrance adds another dimension. The flowers release a strong, spicy perfume, making Lunara particularly rewarding near a garden path, entrance or seating area, where its unusual colour and scent can both be appreciated.

Vigorous yet manageable, Lunara reaches approximately 200 cm in height and 70 cm in width. Its climbing stems can be trained over trellises, fences, obelisks and smaller garden arches, while repeat flowering brings fresh clusters of colour throughout the growing season.

Kordes rates Lunara as very winter-hardy, making it suitable for a wide range of European climates. Its foliage, however, requires some attention: breeder disease ratings indicate susceptibility to black spot, mildew and rust. Good air circulation, watering at soil level and regular monitoring are recommended to help maintain healthy growth.

Imagine Lunara climbing through a dark metal trellis, contrasting with pale stone or appearing beside white clematis and silver-leaved perennials. Its unusual colouring creates a distinctive garden feature, bringing a modern touch to the timeless romance of climbing roses.

Lunara is a rose for gardeners who enjoy making unexpected choices. Its colour catches the eye, its fragrance rewards curiosity, and its climbing growth transforms an ordinary vertical space into something memorable.

Frequently asked questions:

What colour is Lunara?
Lunara produces unusual purple-violet flowers, a colour less commonly seen among climbing roses. The exact shade can vary depending on weather and growing conditions.

Is Lunara a true blue rose?
No. Lunara belongs to the violet-purple colour range rather than being a true blue rose. Its cooler colouring can create a blue-violet impression in certain light, but it should not be expected to produce genuinely blue flowers.

What shape are Lunara's flowers?
The blooms are semi-double, with a more open, natural appearance than densely filled nostalgic roses. They are produced in attractive small clusters.

How large are the flowers?
Kordes gives a flower diameter of approximately 7–8 cm, placing Lunara among medium-flowered climbing roses.

Is Lunara strongly fragrant?
Yes. Kordes rates its fragrance as intense, making scent an important reason to choose this variety.

What does Lunara smell like?
Its fragrance has a distinctive spicy character. Kordes does not specify individual spice notes, so it is best described as a strong, spicy rose perfume.

Does Lunara repeat flower?
Yes. It produces successive flushes throughout the growing season, rather than flowering only once.

How tall does Lunara grow?
Its expected mature height is approximately 200 cm, with a width of around 70 cm under the growing conditions described by Kordes.

Is Lunara suitable for a small garden?
Yes, provided it has a suitable vertical support. At approximately 2 m tall, Lunara is more manageable than many climbing roses that can reach 3–5 m or more.

Can Lunara grow on a rose arch?
Yes. Its climbing habit makes it suitable for smaller arches, particularly where its stems can be guided along the structure. For a very large arch or pergola, a taller climbing variety may be more appropriate.

Can Lunara be trained against a fence?
Yes. A sturdy trellis or horizontal support wires allow the stems to be guided across a fence. Training the main stems diagonally or horizontally can encourage more flowering shoots along their length.

Is Lunara suitable for an obelisk?
Yes. Its approximate 2 m height makes it an attractive choice for a sturdy rose obelisk, where the purple-violet flowers can be displayed at different levels.

Is Lunara resistant to fungal diseases?
Kordes' detailed ratings indicate some susceptibility to black spot, mildew and rust. Plant it where air can circulate freely, avoid wetting the foliage unnecessarily and monitor regularly for early signs of disease.

Is Lunara suitable for cold climates?
Kordes rates Lunara as very winter-hardy. This makes it a promising choice for colder European gardens, although newly planted roses and those in exposed positions may still benefit from winter protection.

Does Lunara need full sun?
A sunny position is the safest choice for reliable flowering and healthy growth. Avoid cramped, persistently damp or poorly ventilated locations, particularly because its foliage can be susceptible to fungal diseases.

How far apart should Lunara roses be planted?
Kordes recommends approximately one to two plants per square metre. When planting against a support, allow enough room for the mature growth and good air circulation rather than crowding the plants.

Which plants combine well with Lunara?
White clematis, pale pink roses, silver-leaved perennials, white salvia and ornamental grasses can complement its violet-purple flowers. Pale colours create contrast, while deeper purples produce a more dramatic planting scheme.

What makes Lunara different from other climbing roses?
Its combination of unusual purple-violet colouring, semi-double clustered flowers, strong spicy fragrance and manageable 2 m climbing height gives it a distinctive character. It is particularly attractive for gardeners looking for a modern alternative to traditional climbing rose colours.

What does the rose look like on delivery?
Its appearance depends on the delivery season and natural stage of growth. For examples and explanations, see What roses look like on delivery →.

What should I do after planting?
Water thoroughly, keep the root area evenly moist during establishment and begin guiding new stems towards the support as they grow. For detailed instructions, visit our complete planting guide →.