Photo: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0

Shrub; Anglo-French styleBiljana Božanić Tanjga + Peter Cox; Pheno Geno Roses, 2016Bicolour

Natalija Frayla

Apricot with a pink reverse. The Fragrant Frayla® Pheno Geno series is by a Serbian house that dedicates its varieties to prominent Serbian women. In the USA it is sold as Flavorette Honey-Apricot (2023, Star Roses). 🇸🇷 Probably named after Queen Natalija Obrenović (1859–1941).

Fragrant Frayla® series · Pheno Geno Roses, Serbia

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat flowering from June to October, with pronounced flushes. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Use

Fragrance variety

One of the most fragrant modern varieties · Star Roses 2023

Winter hardiness

−20 °C

USDA zone 6. In Ukraine, with winter protection.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

60–75 × 70 cm

Habit: Compact, upright Shrub
Dimensions: 60–75 cm tall × up to 70 cm wide — compact
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Shoots: Medium stiffness, dark green
Branching: Well branched, with sturdy stems

Flower

≈ 7 cm

Up to 82 petals.

Bud shape: Rounded, apricot-cream with pink shades
Open flower: Very full (41+, ~82 petals): cup-and-rosette form with a noticeable pink reverse
Centre: Closely packed, with concentric 'petticoat' petals
Fullness: Up to 82 petals — very full, typical of the Frayla series
Flower carriage: In small clusters of 3–5, typical of a modern Shrub

Fragrance

Medium/strong; fruity; spice; sweet

Medium to strong and fruity, with notes of spice and sweetness (HMF: 'Mild to strong, fruity, spice, sweet'). Star Roses describes Flavorette as 'one of the most fragrant modern varieties'.

Disease resistance

3 out of 5

Powdery mildewsusceptible

Moderate — 3/5; susceptible to powdery mildew in damp weather; in Ukraine it needs winter protection.

Sun

Full sun

The colour is brighter in cool weather.

Thorns

Few

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Few thorns — typical of modern Pheno Geno Shrubs.

Foliage

Dark green, semi-glossy.

Other names

Eveline Wild, Flavorette™ Honey-Apricot, Mia™ Bella

All characteristics in a table

Group: Shrub; Anglo-French style
Breeder: Biljana Božanić Tanjga + Peter Cox; Pheno Geno Roses, Serbia, 2016
Bud shape: Rounded, apricot-cream with pink shades
Open flower: Very full (41+, ~82 petals): cup-and-rosette form with a noticeable pink reverse
Centre: Closely packed, with concentric 'petticoat' petals
Colour: Two-tone apricot-pink palette: the front of the petals is apricot-honey, the reverse is pink. A unique 'two flowers in one' effect as the bloom opens
Fullness: Up to 82 petals — very full, typical of the Frayla series
Flower carriage: In small clusters of 3–5, typical of a modern Shrub
Flowering: Repeat flowering from June to October, with pronounced flushes
Fragrance: Medium to strong and fruity, with notes of spice and sweetness (HMF: 'Mild to strong, fruity, spice, sweet'). Star Roses describes Flavorette as 'one of the most fragrant modern varieties'
Hips: Not documented; spent blooms are mostly cut off for repeat flowering
Habit: Compact, upright Shrub
Branching: Well branched, with sturdy stems
Shoots: Medium stiffness, dark green
Thorns: Few thorns — typical of modern Pheno Geno Shrubs.
Dimensions: 60–75 cm tall × up to 70 cm wide — compact
Support: Not needed — self-supporting
Foliage: Dark green, semi-glossy
Resistance: Moderate — 3/5; susceptible to powdery mildew in damp weather; in Ukraine it needs winter protection
Variations of the variety: Code BOZnatafra (other internal code: BOZcba001). Introduced around 2016 in the Netherlands. Parentage: not officially announced (HMF: 'not yet ascertained'). Synonyms: 🇳🇱 Eveline Wild™ ('Taste of Love' series), 🇺🇸 Flavorette™ Honey-Apricot (2023, Star Roses), 🇬🇧 Mia™ Bella® (UK). The breeder is NOT Zoran Frayla; the real breeders are Biljana Božanić Tanjga and Peter Cox. 'Frayla' is the name of the series (Serbian for 'Fräulein / young lady'), not a surname

Colour scheme

Two-tone apricot-pink palette: the front of the petals is apricot-honey, the reverse is pink. A unique 'two flowers in one' effect as the bloom opens

Rose neighbours

Lady of Shalottwarm apricot

Bathshebacreamy apricot

Notting Hillsoft pink-apricot

Blue for Yousmoky purple · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlavender

Lamb's ear (Stachys)silver

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla)lime green

Catmint (Nepeta)sky blue

Neighbouring roses

Apricot-pink cottage family for romantic arrangements:

Lady of Shalott Bathsheba Notting Hill Blue for You

Perennial companions

Classic cottage palette with purple-silver tones:

lavenderlamb's ear (Stachys)lady's mantle (Alchemilla)catmint (Nepeta)

Availability worldwide

Growing popularity as a fragrance variety:

🇸🇷🇳🇱: high · Pheno Geno home
🇬🇧 UK: moderate · Trevor White Roses
🇺🇸 USA: moderate · as Flavorette Honey-Apricot (Star Roses 2023)
🇺🇦 Ukraine: rare

More about the variety

Hips: Not documented; spent blooms are mostly cut off for repeat flowering
Variations of the variety: Code BOZnatafra (other internal code: BOZcba001). Introduced around 2016 in the Netherlands. Parentage: not officially announced (HMF: 'not yet ascertained'). Synonyms: 🇳🇱 Eveline Wild™ ('Taste of Love' series), 🇺🇸 Flavorette™ Honey-Apricot (2023, Star Roses), 🇬🇧 Mia™ Bella® (UK). The breeder is NOT Zoran Frayla; the real breeders are Biljana Božanić Tanjga and Peter Cox. 'Frayla' is the name of the series (Serbian for 'Fräulein / young lady'), not a surname

How to grow

Where to plant. In a cottage garden at the front of a border, in beds with lavender, beside paths and seating areas, so the scent can be enjoyed. A lovely fragrance variety by terraces, benches and the house entrance.

Climate. Central and eastern Ukraine with winter protection (USDA 6); in a western climate no protection is needed. The colour is brighter in cool weather.

Care. Full sun; a well-ventilated spot (important against powdery mildew); feed 2–3 times a season; prune about ⅓ in spring; cut for home bouquets: short stems, fragrant 'vintage' arrangements.

About the name

Name. 🇸🇷 'Natalija Frayla' is probably named after Queen Natalija Obrenović (1859–1941), wife of King Milan I of Serbia. The Fragrant Frayla® Pheno Geno series honours prominent Serbian women: humanists, queens and artists. 'Frayla' is a Serbian archaic word meaning 'Fräulein / young lady / noblewoman'. In different countries the variety is sold under alternative trade names: 🇳🇱 Eveline Wild™, 🇺🇸 Flavorette™ Honey-Apricot, 🇬🇧 Mia™ Bella®.

Breeding. Bred by Biljana Božanić Tanjga and Peter Cox at Pheno Geno Roses (Serbia), one of Serbia's leading breeding houses, focused on fragrant modern Shrubs. Code BOZnatafra. Introduced around 2016 in the Netherlands; in the USA in 2023 through Star Roses (as Flavorette Honey-Apricot). Parentage not officially announced. A common myth names the breeder 'Zoran Frayla': this is wrong; the real breeders are Biljana Božanić Tanjga and Peter Cox.

Significance. One of the most fragrant modern varieties (according to Star Roses marketing, 2023). The Fragrant Frayla® series is a Serbian cultural-national line dedicated to prominent Serbian women. Flexible trade names for different markets (Eveline Wild in the NL, Flavorette in the US, Mia Bella in the UK) are uncommon but important for marketing modern varieties. No major official awards (AARS and ADR not given), but it is actively promoted in the USA as 'the most fragrant'.

Frequently asked questions about Natalija Frayla

Does Natalija Frayla need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −20 °C (USDA zone 6). Overwintering depends on the conditions. In Ukraine, with winter protection.

How many times a season does Natalija Frayla flower?

Repeat flowering from June to October, with pronounced flushes.

How big does Natalija Frayla grow?

60–75 cm tall, about 70 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Natalija Frayla?

Overall resistance: 3 out of 5. Moderate; susceptible to powdery mildew in damp weather.

How much sun does Natalija Frayla need?

Sun; full sun; the colour is brighter in cool weather.

What does Natalija Frayla smell like?