Liolà

Where to plant. Formal borders, white monochrome beds with purple accents, containers on terraces, Italian Mediterranean gardens; very good for contrasting compositions thanks to its sharp edge.

Climate. To −20 °C — in Ukraine with moderate protection; in the south, no protection needed.

Care. A classic Floribunda — spring pruning; removing spent flowers stimulates new flushes; moderate seasonal disease prevention.

Name. «Liolà» — after the play of the same name by Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936), Nobel laureate in literature in 1934. «Liolà» (1916) is a comedy in three acts about a young village poet named Liola who lives in Sicily. It is one of Pirandello's best-known works, depicting Mediterranean rural life and the poetic soul of a simple peasant.

Breeding. Raised by Anna Medici Barni at Rose Barni (Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy), presented in 2003. Code BAR 5336 / trade name BARlio. Parentage not published. Rose Barni is the oldest Italian rose nursery, founded in 1882 by the Barni family; it is based in Pistoia, the historic centre of Italian rose growing.

Significance. The silver medal and the title «Most Beautiful Rose of Italy» — Monza 2003 (entry No. 084) — is the highest award at Italy's main rose competition. The first Italian variety in our catalogue, opening a new geographic category. One of the few internationally known works of Anna Medici Barni, a representative of the Barni family school. Not to be confused with the various «Liola» brands (cosmetics, fashion) — those are different products.