Rose Aloha Hawaii

‘Aloha Hawaii’ is a modern large-flowered climbing rose, it is a robust, repeat-flowering climber combining old-fashioned bloom form with improved disease resistance. Its apricot-pink blooms exhibit a nostalgic rosette shape and a sweet fruity fragrance, reflecting a successful synthesis of beauty and hardiness sought in contemporary rose breeding.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

FLOWERING

This rose variety has a recurrent (repeat-blooming). Main heavy flush in late spring/early summer, followed by continual blooming in waves until autumn frost. Blooms on old and new wood, but flowers best on laterals of established canes. Deadheading spent clusters encourages quicker repeat. In ideal conditions, flowering is nearly continuous, from late spring to late autumn.

Bloom:

The flowers of ‘Aloha Hawaii’ are a standout feature, combining size, fullness, and changing coloration. Buds are classically pointed and often emerge a deep reddish-pink (crimson) before unfurling. As the blooms open, they reveal a blended palette of apricot, peach, and pink with occasional red highlights. The inner petal fronts are typically a soft apricot or coral pink, while the petal reverses (undersides) carry a richer pinkish-red hue, creating a bi-color effect.

In full bloom, the flowers are large – averaging about 9 - 10 cm in diameter (approximately 4 inches). Each bloom is very double, composed of roughly 40 petals with a lush, layered look. The form is often described as nostalgic or old-fashioned: the blooms open from high-centered buds into deep cup or rosette shapes with a quartered appearance reminiscent of Bourbon or old garden roses. The petals are somewhat ruffled or waved at the edges, enhancing the bloom’s textured, romantic style.

Blooms are borne in clustered inflorescences (clusters) of about 3 - 10 flowers per stem. It is common to see large goblet buds later dense double flowers in clusters, meaning not all buds open simultaneously. This sequential opening in each cluster contributes to a long overall flowering period, as new blooms keep developing while older ones fade

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is often praised and somewhat variable by report, likely depending on climate and nose. Generally, it is a fruity, sweet scent with moderate to high intensity. The breeder’s description calls it a delicate, fruity fragrance, rating it as medium in strength. Gardeners often detect hints of apple or ripe fruit in the aroma, a likely inheritance from the Rugosa parentage (many Rugosa hybrids have a distinctive clove or apple undertone). During warm, still evenings, a mature ‘Aloha Hawaii’ in full bloom can perfume the air noticeably, though it is not as overpowering as some highly perfumed Hybrid Teas.

Reproductive parts:

Provides decorative orange-red hips if blooms are not deadheaded in late season (moderate hip set; the hips size is about 1.5 cm in diameter).

PLANT

‘Aloha Hawaii’ is classified as a Climber or as a Large-Flowered Climber (sometimes abbreviated LCl or Cl HT in catalogs). While often marketed as a climbing rose, it can double as a tall shrub when pruned accordingly. Taxonomically, it is a complex hybrid of modern garden rose lineage with influence from Rosa rugosa via its seed parent ‘Rugelda’. The cultivar falls under the broad genus Rosa (family Rosaceae), and like most modern roses is a deciduous, repeat-blooming cultivar that sheds leaves in winter in cold climates.

The growth habit is vigorously climbing and upright. In open ground, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ can easily attain 250 to 300 cm in height (approximately 8 - 10 ft) once well established. Its natural spread is around 100 - 120 cm (3 - 4 ft) in width, with good basal branching leading to a bushy base.

The canes are thick and slightly rigid; they will grow upright if left unsupported. When provided with a trellis or support, the rose rapidly sends up long new canes that can be fanned out horizontally or diagonally. Training is recommended to get the best floral display, as bending canes encourages lateral shoots and more blooms. It’s noted that if ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is not given something to climb, it does not always show its climbing ability and may form a large arching shrub on its own. This versatility means the cultivar can be maintained as a shrub rose of about 180 cm (6 ft) height by hard pruning, or allowed to climb to full size on structures.

Responds well to training: tying canes horizontally or at 45° yields more laterals and blooms. Growth is upright initially; provide support early to guide shape. Moderate suckering from base, it produces new basals periodically. Forms a handsome climber for walls, fences, arches, pergolas; also usable as a large shrub or even a hedge (plant 1 m apart for creating a magnificent hedge).

Foliage and canes:

The foliage of ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is plentiful and decorative. Leaves are dark green, described as semi-glossy to glossy. The compound leaves typically have about 5 - 7 (sometimes 9) leaflets with an oval shape and serrated margins, typical of modern roses. The leaf texture is somewhat leathery and thick, indicating robustness.

The new growth may have a slight reddish tint on young leaves, maturing to rich green. The dense foliage along the canes helps cover the plant well, and gardeners note that even the lower parts of the plant maintain leaves when the rose is in good health.

The canes are stiff, stout, and very thorny. In fact, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is noteworthy for its abundance of large prickles along vigorous canes. The prickles are thick-based and hooked, typical of Rugosa-influenced hybrids. This thorniness, while a defensive advantage for the plant, means gardeners should wear sturdy gloves and take care when training or pruning the rose. Disease and stress resistance:

‘Aloha Hawaii’ was bred explicitly for disease resistance, and it largely lives up to that goal. It shows excellent resistance to black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) and high resistance to powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) in multiple trials. Kordes’ own testing rated it top-tier on black spot (4 out of 4 stars) and very good on mildew (3 out of 4). This means that in many climates, foliage remains clean and green through the season with minimal or no fungicide use - a significant advantage for home gardeners. Field observations support that ‘Aloha Hawaii’ usually shrugs off black spot even in humid, disease-prone regions where more susceptible roses defoliate. Rose rust (Phragmidium spp.), another fungal disease, is only slightly problematic; Kordes rates this cultivar as having slight susceptibility to rust but with an ability to recover on its own. Gardeners in cooler, moist climates (where rust can flourish) have occasionally noted a bit of rust on lower leaves late in the season, but not enough to significantly damage the plant. Importantly, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ carries genes from Rosa rugosa (via ‘Rugelda’), a species known for toughness and disease resistance. Rugosa hybrids often have inherent resistance to black spot and rust, and while some rugosa-derived roses can get mildew, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ has shown strong mildew resistance even in dry, hot summers. Overall, this rose can be considered a low-maintenance cultivar in terms of disease - a prime example of a modern “garden rose” that doesn’t demand the heavy spraying regime of yesteryear’s hybrid teas.

In terms of abiotic stress, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is notably winter-hardy. The breeder labels it “extremely winterhardy”. In practical terms, it is dependable to at least USDA Hardiness Zone 6 and possibly Zone 5 with protection. The plant can tolerate winter lows around –20 °C (–4 °F) with minimal dieback.

Heat tolerance for ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is reasonably good – it can flourish up to Zone 9 and has been grown in Mediterranean climates without significant bloom scorch or reduction in vigor. Its Rugosa heritage lends some drought tolerance: thick leaves minimize transpiration and the plant’s robust root system (once established) can handle short dry spells. That said, like any rose, it prefers consistent moisture and may suffer in extreme heat (>35 °C) unless given some afternoon shade and ample water. In summary, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is a durable, climate-flexible rose, handling cold and heat better than many classic climbers, all while maintaining superior disease resistance. These traits reduce the need for chemical interventions and special care, aligning with sustainable gardening practices.

The name ‘Aloha Hawaii’ carries both marketing flair and practical necessity. Originally, Kordes named this rose simply ‘Aloha’ for the European market, registering it under that exhibition name in 2003. “Aloha” is the Hawaiian word for love, peace, or hello – evoking warm, tropical hospitality. The choice likely alludes to the rose’s vibrant sunset colors and fruity fragrance, conjuring an “island paradise” feel. Indeed, Kordes has a tradition of giving some roses exotic or cheerful names to attract gardeners (for example, other climbers in the line include ‘Laguna’, ‘Jasmina’, ‘Amadeus’, etc., each with thematic resonance). However, an issue arose: a famous older rose, ‘Aloha’ (Boerner, 1949), already bore that name. To avoid confusion, especially in international commerce, the newer Kordes rose began to be referred to as ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’. The synonym “Kordes Rose Aloha” has also been used in some catalogs, essentially indicating “Aloha, by Kordes” to distinguish it from Aloha (Boerner).

The officially recognized synonyms for this cultivar include: ‘Aloha’ (the exhibition or trade name used by Kordes in some regions), ‘Aloha Hawaii’ (used particularly in North America and Eastern Europe), “Kordes Rose Aloha” (a name variant found in some listings), and the breeder’s reference KORwesrug. These are all the same rose. The Royal Horticultural Society’s database lists Rosa ‘Aloha Hawaii’ with the synonym Rosa ‘Korwesrug’, indicating the accepted linkage of the popular name to the registered code.

Climbing Max

Orleans Certificate of Merit, Orléans Rose Trials 2006;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is a climbing rose cultivar, also referred to as Large-Flowered Climber, bred by the German firm W. Kordes’ Söhne in 2003 by crossing the Kordes shrub rose ’KORwest’ / ‘Westerland’ (1969) with the Rugosa-hybrid ‘Rugelda’. The breeder’s internal code “KORwesrug” encodes these parents - “wes” for Westerland and “rug” for Rugelda. This pairing was part of Kordes’ efforts in the 1990s to incorporate Rugosa blood into ornamental climbers for improved health. The successful outcome is evident in ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’’s performance: it inherited Westerland’s warm color range and flower size, and Rugelda’s toughness and gloss. According to Kordes, the seedling was selected and tested under number 95/1821-16 before being named and introduced. It first bloomed and showed promise in the late 90s, then underwent several years of trial (including no-spray trials) prior to its 2003 release.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

Rose ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ came up during a period when rose breeders like Kordes were intensively focusing on disease resistance and garden performance, often forgoing chemical sprays in their trial fields to select only the healthiest varieties. ‘Aloha Hawaii’ is emblematic of these breeding goals - a cultivar combining healthy foliage and nostalgic blooms in an attractive colour.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ naming history reflects both creative branding and practical differentiation. It honors a legacy rose name (Aloha) while staking its own identity with the Hawaii tag. Breeders and registrars have ensured that, despite some early confusion, today gardeners understand ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ as the 21st-century Kordes introduction - a separate entity from the older ‘Aloha’ rose. This clarity is important not just for accurate cataloging but because gardeners seeking the exceptional disease resistance and apricot blend blooms of the Kordes cultivar should not accidentally get the wrong rose. Thanks to the synonyms being well-documented, most references now clearly tie ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ to the KORwesrug climber.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ may be distinguished from its seed parent ’KORwest’ / ‘Westerland’, by the following combination of characteristics:

’KORwest’ / ‘Westerland’ (Kordes 1969) is a robust shrub rose often grown as a climber, with semi-double amber-orange blooms and a strong spicy fragrance. ’KORwest’ / ‘Westerland’ is renowned for its hardiness and vigorous regrowth, as well as good black spot resistance for its era. It contributed genes for vibrant orange coloration, vigor, and possibly the fruity aspect of the scent. It’s also likely the source of the “wes” in the seedling code of ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’.

The ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent ‘Rugelda’ by the following combination of characteristics:

 ‘Rugelda’ (Kordes 1989), is a yellow Rugosa-hybrid shrub rose (often classified as a modern Rugosa). Rugelda has semi-double bright yellow blooms edged pink and is extremely disease resistant, owing to its Rosa rugosa heritage. It brought in strong foliage disease resistance, winter hardiness, and the Rugosa traits of glossy leaves and multiple flowering laterals. ‘Rugelda’ is reportedly a cross involving ‘Robusta’ (a Rugosa hybrid) and possibly ‘Bonanza’ (a Floribunda), which aligns with a detailed note: the Chinese plant patent for ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ describes the parentage as Westerland × (Bonanza × Robusta).

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

Given its apricot-pink coloration and fragrant, large blooms, ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ invites comparison to a few other well-known climbing roses. One important distinction is from its namesake predecessor ‘Aloha’ (Boerner, 1949), a pink climber from the mid-20th century. The older Aloha has pure rose-pink blooms with a silvery reverse, whereas ‘KORwesrug’ / ‘Aloha Hawaii’ has a distinct apricot hue and more multicolored effect. Additionally, the 1949 ‘Aloha’, though very fragrant and beautiful, is less disease-resistant (notably blackspot-susceptible in humid climates). In fact, Kordes likely added “Hawaii” to the trade name especially outside Germany to avoid mix-ups with the American ’Aloha’.

Other climbers in the apricot/peach color class include ‘Compassion’ (Harkness 1972) and ‘Polka’ (Meilland 1991). ’Compassion’ is a fragrant salmon-pink/apricot climbing hybrid tea, but it tends to have more salmon-pink tones and slightly fewer petals. While ‘Compassion’ is an excellent rose, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ surpasses it in blackspot resistance. ‘Polka’ is a more heavily ruffled apricot climber; compared to ‘Polka’, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ has a clearer, brighter pink overlay and likely better cold-hardiness (‘Polka’ can suffer in harsh winters).

Another Kordes climber of note is ’KORwest’ / ‘Westerland’, one of ‘Aloha Hawaii’’s parents. Westerland is more orange and semi-double, with a different charm (a loose, almost wild look) and a strong spice fragrance. ‘Aloha Hawaii’ inherits ’KORwest’ / ‘Westerland’’s vibrancy but offers a fuller flower and less prickly (Westerland’s prickles are fewer but larger). Additionally, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ blooms laterally along canes more readily, whereas ’KORwest’ / ‘Westerland’ often blooms mostly at cane ends if not trained.

A sibling from Kordes’ breeding program is ‘Rosanna’ (KORtruf, 2002), a salmon-pink climber which also won international medals. ‘Rosanna’ has a similar growth habit and health, but its color leans pure pink without the apricot warmth of ‘Aloha Hawaii’. For gardeners seeking a slightly different palette, these related climbers each offer a variant, but ‘Aloha Hawaii’ stands out with its unique tropical sunset coloration (hence the “Hawaii” moniker) and its combination of intense fragrance and Rugosa-grade robustness, a relatively rare pairing. In summary, ‘Aloha Hawaii’ can be distinguished from other apricot climbers by its multi-tonal apricot-pink-red blooms, its rugosa-like dense glossy foliage and heavy thorn set, and its consistently reliable repeat and disease resistance. It fills a valuable role as a “romantic but tough” climbing rose well-suited for gardeners who want lavish color and scent without intensive care.

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