Rose Eisvogel

A German-bred Nostalgic Hybrid Tea rose of exceptional health, ‘Eisvogel’ offers a powerful, exotic fragrance from very double, globular blooms. Its most striking feature is a unique iridescent colouration, with cool lilac and mauve outer petals blending into a warm, coppery-orange heart, a combination that truly honours its namesake, the kingfisher bird.

FLOWERING

The blooms of ‘Eisvogel’ are a study in contrasts, blending vintage form with a complex, modern colour palette. Each large flower measures about 10 - 12 cm (4 - 4.75 inches) in diameter and is densely packed with 41 to 50 petals, giving it a very full, globular form upon opening. The initial shape is deeply cupped, with the numerous petals unfurling into a quartered, rosette-style bloom reminiscent of Old garden roses.

The colour is its most celebrated trait; the outer petals are a cool, shimmering lilac-pink, which deepens towards the bloom’s centre before giving way to a warm, glowing heart of copper and apricot-orange. This striking blend of cool and warm tones is most pronounced in light partial shade. The petals themselves have delicately waved or ruffled edges, adding to the romantic, nostalgic charm of its flowers.

The fragrance is described as strong and exotic. It is described as having top notes of classic rose and lily, resting on a rich, warm base of sandalwood and musk, creating a memorable and sophisticated perfume. The intensity of this fragrance is noted to increase as the plant matures.

‘Eisvogel’ is a reliable repeat-bloomer, producing flowers in flushes throughout the growing season on strong, upright stems. This habit, combined with a good vase life, makes it an excellent choice for cutting, allowing its dramatic colour and powerful fragrance to be brought indoors.

PLANT

Classified as a Nostalgic Hybrid Tea rose, ‘Eisvogel’ combines the classic, fragrant blooms of old roses with the robust performance of a modern shrub. It forms an upright, bushy, and rounded plant reaching a mature height of 80 - 120 cm (31 - 47 in) and a width of 40 - 50 cm (16 - 18 in).

The canes are strong with few prickles. Its foliage is medium-sized, dense, and a healthy, glossy dark green, providing a perfect backdrop for the iridescent blooms.

The variety exhibits very good to excellent disease resistance, particularly against common fungal issues like black spot and mildew. It is winter hardy to at least USDA Zone 6 and potentially cooler zones like 5. For best performance, it should be planted in well-drained, fertile soil in a position receiving full sun, although it notably tolerates and even benefits from light partial shade, which can enhance the complexity of the flower colours. Pruning should follow standard practice for hybrid tea roses: a harder prune in late winter or early spring to encourage strong new flowering shoots, and deadheading spent blooms during the season to promote subsequent flushes.

Its tidy, upright habit makes ‘Eisvogel’ ideal for formal beds, borders, and solitary specimen planting. For companion planting, the cool lilac tones would be beautifully complemented by perennials with blue or silver foliage, such as Nepeta (Catmint), Lavandula (Lavender), or Stachys byzantina (Lamb's Ear).

The primary trade name, ‘Eisvogel’, is the German word for the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), a bird famous for its dazzling, iridescent plumage that flashes between blue and orange. The name was chosen to reflect the rose’s unique and contrasting colouration of cool violet-pinks and a warm copper-orange centre.

In the UK, it was introduced as ‘20th Anniversary’ to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Royal Horticultural Society's Tatton Park Flower Show in 2018.

The synonym ‘Kingfisher’ is a direct English translation of the German name.

Nostalgie

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

‘Eisvogel’ was bred in 2008 by the world-renowned German firm Rosen Tantau and carries the breeder registration code ‘TAN08104’. It was subsequently introduced in Germany in 2016 as part of the breeder's "Nostalgie" collection. The full parentage of this rose variety has not been publicly disclosed by the breeder.

USDA 6