FLORENTINA ® – dark red climbing rose - Kordes
Under an arbour of Florentina, afternoon tea immediately feels more romantic: large, rosette blooms in a rich dark red shade gather in corymbs and repeat through summer, giving a storybook backdrop to family life. This large-flowered climber is bred for modern resilience, with outstanding disease resistance and reliable hardiness that stands up well where gardens are often exposed to strong coastal wind and frequent rain. On its own roots it establishes steadily and lives for decades, quietly building longevity into your planting, regenerating well from the base and keeping its decorative value without complicated care. Give it a simple support, plant once, then enjoy its density of glossy foliage, its subtly rose-scented character and generous flowering, as it fills pergolas, fences and arches with deep red presence. Over the first few seasons you will see a natural progression – first it concentrates on roots, then on strong shoots, and by the third year it usually reaches its full ornamental impact.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Family pergola or seating arbour |
Ideal for creating a shaded, storybook corner where you can sit beneath cascades of dark red rosettes on summer afternoons; strong growth and a long-lived own-root framework mean you plant once and enjoy for many years – a generous choice for the family gardener. |
| Arch or gateway accent |
The climbing habit and dense foliage quickly clothe arches and garden entrances, giving a sense of arrival without demanding intricate pruning; its dependable repeat flowering keeps the feature attractive from early to late summer – well suited to the busy homeowner. |
| Fence and boundary softening |
Trains neatly along wires or trellis, turning plain fences into a deep red, glossy green backdrop; the robust health and minimal maintenance needs reduce routine spraying and fuss, even in typical British humidity – reassuring for the low-maintenance seeker. |
| Pillar, obelisk or tall support |
Its upright, climbing structure spirals naturally around pillars or tall supports, where the bloom clusters are shown off at eye level; moderate self-cleaning means only occasional deadheading to keep it tidy – attractive for the new rose grower. |
| Traditional cottage-style mixed border |
Complements foxgloves, peonies and bellflowers with its saturated dark red colour and rosette form, adding instant cottage charm behind kitchen-garden beds; the mild fragrance contributes a gentle, homely feel rather than overpowering scent – perfect for the cottage-style lover. |
| Small to medium family garden screen |
Suited to average-sized plots where a single rose must work hard: dense foliage, good heat tolerance and steady repeat flowering give reliable cover and privacy, while the own-root system offers long-term stability without replanting – ideal for the practical planner. |
| Large container (40–50 L+) on terrace or patio |
In a well‑drained container of at least 40–50 litres, it climbs against a wall or balustrade, bringing dark red blooms close to the house; strong health and modest feeding needs keep care simple for several seasons – convenient for the urban balcony owner. |
| Exposed or coastal-influenced garden spots |
Its proven hardiness, resilient foliage and good disease resistance cope well where wind-driven rain and damp conditions often challenge other climbers, so the structure and colour remain dependable from year to year – a sound option for the risk-averse buyer. |
Styling ideas
- Tea-Arbour Retreat – Train Florentina over a simple wooden arbour with a small bistro set beneath, letting deep red blooms frame family tea and weekend reading – for families who cherish relaxed garden rituals.
- Cottage Kitchen Walkway – Pair it on an arch with foxgloves and fragrant peonies, leading from patio to vegetable beds for an instantly romantic cottage-garden feel – for lovers of traditional, “girly” English borders.
- Crimson Garden Screen – Use along a boundary with mixed hedging and climbers to create a living privacy screen where foliage is dense year after year – for homeowners wanting soft, reliable separation from neighbours.
- Patio Pillar Focus – Grow it on a sturdy obelisk in a large 50 L terracotta pot, underplanting with lavender or campanula to highlight its colour and fragrance – for balcony and terrace gardeners short on ground space.
- Storybook Front Fence – Let it scramble along low front-garden fencing, combined with bellflowers and herbs, to give a welcoming, old-village character to the entrance – for those seeking romantic curb appeal.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Large-flowered climbing rose from the Klettermaxe collection; registered as KORtrameilo, marketed as Florentina ® Klettermaxe®; ARS exhibition name Florentina for show and garden use. |
| Origin and breeding |
German-bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes for W. Kordes’ Söhne; unnamed seedling cross made in 2002, registered in 2012 and introduced after 2012 as a vigorous, ornamental climbing rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated climber: Buenos Aires Gold Medal 2012, Tokyo International Great Rose Show Silver Medal 2013, ADR certification 2016 and Best of the Best at La Tacita International Rose Competition 2016. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit with dense, glossy dark green foliage and many prickles; reaches about 200–300 cm in height and 70–130 cm spread, forming a substantial, trainable framework for arches and fences. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms with more than 40 petals, borne mainly in corymbose clusters; remontant through the season, with the second flush lighter, and some spent blooms needing manual deadheading for neatness. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Intense, vivid dark red flowers (RHS 46B) from bud to full bloom, holding colour well before slowly veering to a pinkish-purple tone; a small pale eye may appear at the centre as the blooms fully open and mature. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Subtly scented variety with a mild, delicately rose-like fragrance; sufficient to contribute to a pleasant garden atmosphere around seating areas without overwhelming nearby planting or small enclosed spaces. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to the very double bloom form, hip set is sparse; where present, hips are spherical, around 10–15 mm across, coloured orange-red (RHS 40A), and usually of minor visual importance compared with the flowers. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Excellent all-round disease resistance, notably to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; winter-hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b), coping reliably with cold, wet winters in much of the UK. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with average to fertile soil and good drainage; plant at 140–150 cm for hedging and mass effects or 250 cm as a specimen; low maintenance needs suit pergolas, arches, walls and occasional cutting. |
FLORENTINA ® combines romantic dark red blooms, reliable health and a long-lived own-root framework that settles in for decades of easy beauty, making it a thoughtful choice if you would like a climber that simply gets better with time.
