Rosa Rigo Rosen Innocencia Ground Cover Rose

The Rigo Rosen groundcover rose 'Innocencia' forms a beautiful cushion covered with white flowers with a golden heart, which scatter on the ground before fading into a carpet of white heart-shaped petals, creating a stunning effect. It has a plentiful and bright flowering that lasts until the first frost, enhanced by its glossy and abundant foliage of a vibrant green colour that remains decorative until the end of the season. A few small orange fruits follow the last flowers, adding to the charm of this excellent variety. This rose finds its place in all flower gardens; it is hardy, easy to grow, and almost maintenance-free. Its compact growth makes it ideal for growing in pots or containers to decorate the terrace or balcony.

The 'Korstarnow' Innocencia Rose is a German creation by Kordes, obtained in 2002 and distinguished by the highly selective German label ADR in 2003. It also received the Gold Medal in Rome in 2002 and the Silver Medal in Baden-Baden, Germany, and Le Roeulx, Belgium. It is part of a series of roses called Sans Contraintes, requiring very little maintenance, and of the 'Rigo Rosen' collection developed in partnership with 'Globe Planter', bringing together varieties selected for their genuinely exceptional disease resistance, low-growing habit and enthusiastic flowering in all regions. All Rigo-Roses have received the ADR label.

This 'Innocencia' variety belongs to the floribunda rose family, with flowers grouped in bouquets and the groundcover rose category due to its low and spreading habit. It quickly forms a dense dome of vegetation, reaching about 50 cm (20in) in all directions. It is covered with decorative foliage, a beautiful vibrant green colour that darkens in summer, with finely toothed shiny leaflets on the edges. Its flowering is abundant and regularly repeats from June to October in successive waves if the soil remains somewhat moist in summer. The semi-double corollas, 5-6 cm (2in) wide, are relatively flat cups of 9 to 18 petals gathered in bouquets of 4 to 5 flowers. The buds, surrounded by long apple-green sepals, open into flowers with slightly rounded petals in shells, arranged in 5 to 5 rows. Their pure white colour sometimes appears tinged with butter yellow at the base, depending on the lighting. They open to reveal a beautiful heart of yellow stamens. Pollinated by insects, they produce small round orange fruits, the hips. The deciduous foliage turns yellow before falling in autumn.

The 'Innocencia' groundcover rose adapts to all soils that are not too dry and to all climates, making it suitable for many regions. It is best placed in the morning sun in hotter climates but blooms better in full sun in cooler areas. It is ideal for a border for pathways or flower beds above a wall or on a large slope where it will cover the ground. It can also be planted in groups of 3 specimens, arranged in a triangle, or as a solitary plant on a lawn. Plant it en masse or alongside other groundcover roses with pink, yellow, red, or orange flowers to highlight the path, shrub, and perennial beds, whether light or opulent. For example, it can be paired with perennial geraniums (Geranium Blue Cloud, Anne Folkard, Nimbus, Orion), bellflowers (lactiflora, rapunculoides), catmints, delphiniums, foxgloves, or other perennial salvias. Very easy to combine, it will happily accompany shrub roses, regardless of their colour, in a romantic garden.