Rosa x polyantha 'Sans Contraintes' 'Sweet Knirps' - Ground Cover Rose

The 'Sweet Knirps' rose bush has the same qualities and charm as its parent, the ground cover rose Knirps, but its small pompom flowers are a much lighter pink. It will seduce with its wide cushion-like habit, long and abundant romantic flowering, and natural resistance to rose diseases. Its miniature roses bloom abundantly for 4 to 5 months, continuously succeeding each other on an elegant, dark green foliage, forming a beautiful cascade of flowers. Robust and hardy, this rose from the 'Sans Contraintes' series requires little attention and care from the gardener, even for beginners. It can be planted anywhere and is perfect in front of taller shrubs, on large borders along pathways, or in a container on the balcony.

The flowers of Rosa 'Sweet Knirps' ('korzalicha'), gathered in terminal clusters, come from the polyantha rose, an old hybrid derived from Rosa multiflora and Rosa chinensis. This excellent German variety has received several awards in international competitions. It was introduced in 2014 by the German rose breeder Kordes. The 'Sans Contraintes' roses from Kordes grow on their own, requiring no pruning or chemical treatments, and will reward abundantly the little care they receive.

This wide and low bush has a dense habit, compact and covering vegetation, and develops spreading branches covered with thorns. It will reach approximately 30 cm (12in) in height with a spread of 60 cm (24in) in a few years, possibly a little more if left unpruned. The double flowers, 3 to 4 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, gathered in clusters, are produced abundantly and continuously from June to October if the soil remains moist in summer. The flower buds in this 'Sweet Knirps' variety are light and pure pink. They open into cup-shaped blooms of a candy pink, fading slightly over time. The plant develops elegant, well-furnished foliage divided into small, thick, glossy leaflets ranging from bright green to dark green. The leaves turn yellow in autumn before falling.

The 'Sweet Knirps' rose is exceptionally hardy and adapts to all soils that are not too dry and to all climates, making it suitable for many regions. Plant it as a border, in a flower bed, in a container on the terrace, or on a large slope where it will cover the ground. It can also be planted in groups of 3 plants, arranged in a triangle, isolated on a lawn in a small garden. Plant it en masse or pair it with other ground cover roses of different colours to highlight the path of a pathway or the borders of light or opulent shrubs and perennials. It can be paired with perennial geraniums (Geranium Blue Cloud, Anne Folkard, Nimbus, Orion), bellflowers (lactiflora, rapunculoides), catmints, foxgloves, or other perennial salvias. It combines perfectly with shrub roses to add a lovely romantic touch to your garden.