Rose of the Year 2027: Art Deco

Britain’s horticultural calendar has a new highlight as Roses UK officially introduces the Rose of the Year® 2027: Art Deco® (KORtagtra). This striking new variety is set to become a firm favourite in borders and patio containers across the country, combining classic charm with modern resilience.

A Changing Canvas of Colour
Art Deco® is a Floribunda rose that offers a dynamic visual display in the garden. It produces plentiful clusters of semi-double, lightly scented flowers that are notably pollinator-friendly.

What makes this variety particularly captivating is its reactivity to British weather: "Depending on sunlight intensity, the edges of the white petals blush in deepening shades of pink." Gardeners can expect a continuous display throughout the summer, provided spent blooms are regularly deadheaded to encourage repeat flowering.

Robust and Reliable Performance
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Art Deco® has been bred for exceptional durability. The plant exhibits a bushy, upright growth habit, reaching a manageable mature height of 80 cm.

• Foliage: Dark green, very glossy, and highly attractive.
• Health: Excellent disease resistance, making it an easy-care choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
• Versatility: Equally at home when planted in traditional garden borders or featured in a large patio container.

The variety was created by the award-winning German breeders Kordes Rosen, who are members of the British Association of Rose Breeders (BARB). Following its trade debut at the HTA National Plant Show in mid-June, the rose will be widely available to the public this autumn as either bare-root or newly potted plants from specialist rose nurseries and garden centres.

The Road to the Title
The Rose of the Year® accolade is not awarded lightly. Managed by Roses UK on behalf of BARB, the rigorous selection process ensures that only the finest varieties receive the stamp of approval.

"UK rose breeders and the UK agents of international rose breeders, are invited to enter some of their most promising new varieties into the trial."

Each trial runs for two years and begins a full six years before the winning rose is commercially introduced. To secure the title, a variety must excel across a strict range of criteria. Evaluators closely judge "flower and plant form, colour, scent, abundance of flower, health, weather resistance and easy maintenance"—all characteristics that Art Deco® has proven to possess in abundance.