Meteor

Full description:

Some roses reveal their beauty gradually. Meteor seems to change before your eyes. Its flowers begin with luminous yellow petals delicately edged in red, but as they open, the warmer tones spread and deepen, creating a fascinating interplay of yellow, orange and crimson. Across a flowering shrub, blooms at different stages bring an almost constantly changing display.

Created by the renowned German rose house W. Kordes' Söhne, Meteor combines this dramatic colouring with the generous flowering habit of a modern Floribunda. Its very full flowers, approximately 6–7 cm across, are packed with petals that create a richly textured appearance. The colour contrast is especially striking in sunshine, although the precise balance of shades changes naturally with light and temperature.

Meteor does not rely on a single spectacular flush. It flowers repeatedly and abundantly throughout the growing season, bringing fresh colour as earlier blooms fade. Its fragrance is subtle to moderate, allowing the flowers' unusual colouring and generous production to remain the principal attractions.

Despite its energetic appearance, Meteor is a remarkably manageable rose. The plant forms a dense, upright shrub approximately 70 cm high and 40 cm wide. Its glossy green foliage provides a handsome background for the flowers, while breeder evaluations indicate strong resistance to common rose diseases, including black spot, powdery mildew and rust.

These compact proportions make Meteor especially versatile. Plant it near the front of a sunny border, combine several shrubs in a dedicated rose bed or grow it in a generous container on a terrace. For a fuller mass of colour, Kordes recommends approximately four to five plants per square metre.

Meteor is particularly effective when surrounded by simpler colours and textures. Pale stone, dark containers, ornamental grasses or blue-flowering perennials allow its fiery petals to stand out without competition. A group of Meteor roses can bring warmth and energy to an otherwise restrained planting scheme.

For gardeners who enjoy colour that never feels static, Meteor offers something distinctive: flowers that evolve as they open, generous repeat flowering and a compact shrub that brings an impressive display into surprisingly little space.

Frequently asked questions:

What colour are Meteor's flowers?
Meteor produces striking two-tone flowers combining luminous yellow with red and orange edges. The red colouring generally becomes more prominent as the flowers open and mature.

Does Meteor change colour as it flowers?
Yes. Colour development is one of Meteor's most distinctive features. The balance of yellow, orange and red changes as individual flowers mature, with sunlight and temperature also influencing the final appearance.

Are Meteor's flowers double or semi-double?
Meteor produces very full, richly petalled flowers rather than the open, semi-double blooms found on some other Floribunda roses.

How large are Meteor's flowers?
Individual flowers measure approximately 6–7 cm across, combining a relatively compact diameter with a richly filled appearance.

Is Meteor strongly fragrant?
No. Its fragrance is subtle to moderate. Meteor is primarily chosen for its dramatic colouring, generous flowering and attractive compact growth.

Does Meteor flower more than once?
Yes. Meteor is a repeat-flowering Floribunda, producing successive flushes of flowers throughout the growing season.

How tall does Meteor grow?
Meteor typically reaches approximately 70 cm in height and 40 cm in width, forming a compact, dense and upright shrub.

Is Meteor suitable for a small garden?
Yes. Its compact dimensions make it particularly useful in smaller gardens, narrow borders and spaces where a larger rose would be difficult to accommodate.

Can Meteor be grown in a pot?
Yes. Meteor is suitable for container growing. Choose a generous pot with good drainage, use a suitable rose compost and water regularly, particularly during warm weather.

Is Meteor suitable for balconies and terraces?
Yes. Its compact, upright growth makes it an attractive choice for sunny balconies and terraces, provided the container is sufficiently large and the plant receives regular care.

Does Meteor need full sun?
A sunny position is recommended for reliable flowering and good colour development. Adequate light helps bring out the contrast between the yellow petals and their red edges.

Is Meteor resistant to black spot and powdery mildew?
Kordes evaluations indicate high resistance to the principal foliar diseases affecting roses, including black spot, powdery mildew and rust. However, no rose is completely immune, so good air circulation and basic plant care remain important.

Is Meteor easy to maintain?
Its compact growth and good reported foliage health make Meteor a practical choice for gardeners seeking a manageable rose. Regular watering, seasonal feeding, appropriate pruning and the removal of faded flowers will help maintain its appearance and flowering performance.

How many Meteor roses should I plant together?
Kordes recommends approximately four to five plants per square metre for group planting. This creates a dense, colourful display while allowing room for the shrubs to develop.

Is Meteor better planted alone or in groups?
Both approaches work well. A single plant creates a colourful accent in a container or small border, while several plants together produce a more continuous display of yellow, orange and red.

Which plants combine well with Meteor?
Blue salvia, nepeta, lavender, white-flowering perennials and ornamental grasses can provide an attractive contrast to Meteor's warm colours. Dark foliage and neutral stone also help emphasise the flowers.

Is Meteor suitable for a modern garden?
Yes. Its compact shape, glossy foliage and intense two-tone flowers work particularly well in contemporary borders, geometric planting schemes and simple containers.

What makes Meteor different from other Floribunda roses?
Meteor combines richly petalled yellow flowers with developing red edges, creating a changing colour display. Its abundant repeat flowering, compact proportions and strong reported foliage health make it especially versatile.

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 after planting and keep the root area evenly moist while the rose establishes. For container-grown plants, check moisture levels regularly during warm weather. For detailed instructions, visit our complete planting guide →.