AMADEUS® – red climbing rose – Kordes
This vigorous own‑root climber has been selected for colour, impact and long‑term structure in real British family gardens, where wind, rain and heavy soil demand reliable performance and good anchoring against the elements. Large, cup‑shaped clusters of scarlet‑red blooms keep their brightness in strong sun, giving arches, walls and pergolas a classic cottage‑garden look right through summer and again in a generous second flush. As the own‑root plant matures, its dense, glossy dark‑green foliage and well‑branched framework create a lasting feature that can be pruned either hard or lightly, depending on how formal or relaxed you want the display. With sensible feeding, watering and simple training, it settles in steadily – roots in the first year, then strong new shoots in the second, building to full ornamental value by the third – rewarding your initial patience with a tall, richly flowering companion for decades of garden enjoyment.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Front‑of‑house rose arch or gateway |
The strong climbing habit and dense branching make this rose ideal for training over a rose arch or entrance structure, creating a tall, welcoming tunnel of red blooms that reads beautifully from the street for classic kerbside appeal – rewarding for the visually minded beginner. |
| South‑ or west‑facing house wall |
With a height of 2.4–3.8 m, this variety clothes a wall quickly, using its glossy foliage and large clusters of flowers to soften brick or render without overwhelming smaller plots, especially where a warm wall helps ripen growth – well suited to the time‑pressed homeowner. |
| Pergola or seating‑area frame |
Its vigorous, trainable canes and repeat flowering allow you to weave stems along beams and uprights, giving a shaded seating area framed with red blooms that hold their colour even in high summer, extending evening enjoyment for the comfort‑seeking gardener. |
| Small group planting on a boundary |
Planted at hedging distance, a short run of plants creates a flowering screen where the combination of dense leafage and repeat clusters delivers both privacy and long‑season interest, maturing steadily over successive years for the planning‑oriented buyer. |
| Urban courtyard or side‑return trellis |
The rose tolerates partial shade and copes with radiated heat from paving and brick, so it can brighten narrow side paths or courtyard trellises with vertical colour where horizontal space is scarce, a practical solution for the busy town‑dweller. |
| Cottage‑style mixed border backdrop |
Trained on discrete supports at the back of a border, the rich red flowers and dark, healthy foliage form a strong vertical accent behind perennials and shrubs, echoing traditional cottage gardens while remaining manageable for the style‑conscious novice. |
| Informal country‑style boundary or screen |
With good winter hardiness and reliable cane growth, this climber is well suited to exposed or semi‑rural sites, where once anchored it copes reliably with wind and rain in heavier soils, offering long‑term structure for the future‑focused owner. |
| Larger container with obelisk or column |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot, provided watering and feeding are consistent, this rose can be grown up an obelisk to provide height and drama on patios or by doors, extending its use where in‑ground planting is limited, appealing to the space‑conscious gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Arch – Train over a simple metal or wooden arch and underplant with Geranium macrorrhizum to soften the base and suppress weeds – ideal for lovers of relaxed, romantic entrances.
- Formal Facade – Tie stems to a fan pattern on a sunny wall, spacing canes neatly and underplanting with low Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphyllus’ for a crisp evergreen line – for those favouring ordered structure.
- Pergola Retreat – Cover a small pergola, pairing its red flowers with white or pale pink climbers for contrast and using fragrant herbs in pots beneath – suited to evening sit‑out spaces.
- Country Screen – Run along a post‑and‑wire boundary with Potentilla and cottage perennials in front for a soft, layered hedge that works from house and lane side – good for village and edge‑of‑town gardens.
- Patio Column – Grow in a large 50‑litre container with a sturdy obelisk, combining with seasonal bedding at the base for colour right to the doorstep – perfect for compact urban patios.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Large‑flowered climbing rose from the Klettermaxe collection; registered as KORlabriax, traded as Amadeus® / Klettermaxe®, with Amadeus™ as the approved ARS exhibition name. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by W. Kordes III in Germany (2003) and introduced by W. Kordes’ Söhne in 2007; parentage is unrecorded, typical of modern exhibition‑quality red climbers. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated in European rose trials, with gold medals at The Hague and Geneva (2004), Lyon (2005) and a Certificate of Merit from Bagatelle, Paris, confirming ornamental performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong climbing habit, about 2.4–3.8 m high and 0.9–1.6 m spread; moderately thorny canes with dense, glossy dark‑green foliage, forming a well‑leafed framework when trained on support. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi‑double, cup‑shaped blooms with 13–25 petals, produced in clusters; large flower size (around 7–10 cm), with remontant, abundant repeat flush following the main summer display. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Rich, lustrous deep red (RHS 53A/46A) from velvety ruby buds to full bloom; colour darkens slightly as flowers age yet resists fading or bluing even in strong sunlight and prolonged warmth. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, fresh rose scent, noticeable at close range without dominating sitting areas; semi‑double form allows moderate bee access, adding some pollinator interest alongside ornamental value. |
| Hip characteristics |
Forms moderate numbers of small, spherical hips about 9–15 mm across, coloured orange‑red (RHS 40A), which can add late‑season texture if not all spent blooms are removed. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Very hardy to around –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b); tolerates heat if watered, but is disease‑sensitive, especially to powdery mildew, so benefits from preventative care and monitoring. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on well‑drained soil with sun or light shade; ideal for walls, arches and pergolas in home gardens, with regular feeding, watering and appropriate plant protection to maintain vigour and foliage quality. |
AMADEUS® offers vivid red colour, strong vertical impact and dependable long-term structure on its own roots, making it a thoughtful choice for gardeners planning a lasting, characterful feature.
