The petals are full and of a uniform blood-red hue. In bright light they take on a darker tone. - climber, climbing rose - medium-strength, well-scented rose - fresh, fruity character
– Richly coloured blood-red double blooms.
– Medium, fresh fruity fragrance in flower.
– Vigorous climber for walls, arches, pergolas.
– Dense, glossy dark green foliage effect.
– Proven garden classic with ARS awards.
– Special feature: Colour shifts from ruby to burgundy, creating a dramatic, changing display on the plant.
Low maintenance – Quality-conscious choice
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
22,90 £
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship to the United Kingdom; we only deliver to countries within the European Union. For more information, please contact us!
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ILLUSION® – red climbing rose – Kordes
This classic Kordes climber brings romantic arches of velvety red blooms to pergolas, fences and cottage-style front gardens, combining nostalgic colour with modern garden practicality. Its vigorous growth quickly clothes structures, while dense, glossy foliage gives year-round framework even between flowering flushes. Clusters of medium-sized, double flowers open ruby red, deepening towards carmine and burgundy, with a medium, fruity fragrance that suits seating areas and paths. Own-root plants establish steadily and can regenerate from the base, supporting a genuinely long lifespan in typical British gardens. Flexible canes make it easy to train along wires and trellis for neat, low-effort structure that copes well with breezy, rain-washed, coastal‑influenced conditions where sturdy anchoring really matters. You can expect a natural development from stronger roots in year one, increasing framework in year two and full ornamental impact by about the third season.
Illusion® shows a cup-shaped, double red bloom in profile.
Illusion® in full bloom, showing deep red clustered flowers.
Usage options
Target area
Reasoning
Front‑garden house wall or sunny façade
Ideal where you want a traditional red climber to cover brick or render without complicated design work; its vigorous framework and dense foliage build a stable, long-lived backdrop that quietly supports classic, tidy kerb appeal over many years, especially for the busy homeowner.
Pergola or walk-through arch
The flexible climbing habit and medium-sized, double blooms are well suited to being trained over arches, creating a tunnel of colour with repeat flushes and a pleasant fruity scent that enhances everyday family use of the garden, particularly rewarding for the cottage‑garden enthusiast.
Garden fence or boundary screen
Planted at the recommended spacings, it forms a coherent flowering screen along fences, with glossy dark foliage providing structure even when not in bloom; own-root vigour allows gradual thickening into a durable, easy-to-shape living boundary, reassuring for the first‑time gardener.
Pillar or obelisk feature in a small bed
Its climbing canes can be spiralled up a pillar or obelisk to give strong vertical interest in modest spaces, allowing you to keep ground-level planting simple while still enjoying rich red flowers at eye level, a practical approach for the design‑conscious beginner.
Mixed cottage border with perennials
ILLUSION® provides a tall, flowering backbone that partners well with cranesbills and other perennials, supporting an informal cottage style while remaining structurally clear and manageable; the reliable framework simplifies border planning for the aesthetics‑focused amateur.
Specimen climber on a sturdy rose arch
Used as a solitary specimen, its colour transitions from ruby to burgundy and its moderate scent become focal points, while own-root robustness means the plant can be renewed from the base if needed, supporting long-term enjoyment for the quality‑seeking collector.
Large container or half‑barrel near seating
In a very large container of at least 40–50 litres with good drainage, this rose can be trained onto a trellis or arch beside a terrace, where its repeat blooming and fragrance are easy to appreciate, with day-to-day care kept simple for the urban patio owner.
Exposed, wind‑touched garden edges
The strong root system and climbing framework, once established, give solid anchoring on slightly more exposed sites; trained against a sturdy support, it copes well with our often breezy, rain-washed, coastal‑influenced conditions where sturdy anchoring really matters, suiting the practical family gardener.
Styling ideas
Classic-frontage – Train ILLUSION® along a low house wall with white window frames, underplanting with scented cranesbill for ground cover – for lovers of traditional British front gardens.
Cottage-arch – Pair it on a rose arch with soft pink or white clematis to extend flowering and soften the strong red tones – for romantic cottage-style gardeners.
Structured-screen – Use a row along timber fencing, keeping underplanting simple with evergreen shrubs so the rose provides the main seasonal drama – for homeowners seeking low‑fuss structure.
Pillar-focus – Spiral canes around a metal pillar in a small bed, edging with lavender or catmint to emphasise the vertical accent – for design‑minded small‑garden owners.
Terrace-feature – Grow in a 50‑litre half‑barrel with a fan trellis, adding pots of white geraniums nearby to highlight the deep red blooms – for urban patio and balcony gardeners.
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
ILLUSION® is the current trade name for the climber ‘Illusion’, an ARS classic shrub and exhibition climbing rose, classified as a hybrid Kordesii large-flowered climbing rose.
Origin and breeding
Bred by Reimer Kordes of W. Kordes’ Söhne in Germany and introduced there in 1961, this own-root selection has unknown parentage but reflects the vigorous hybrid Kordesii line.
Awards and recognition
Recognised by the American Rose Society with Classic Shrub Rose Awards in 2000 and 2005, confirming its value both in exhibition settings and for discerning garden collections.
Growth and structural characteristics
A climbing rose reaching about 220–340 cm high with a 140–220 cm spread, producing moderately thorny, flexible canes and dense, glossy dark green foliage that clothes supports effectively.
Flower morphology
Medium-sized, double, cup-shaped blooms with approximately 26–39 petals are carried in clusters; remontant, with a particularly showy first flush followed by lighter repeat flowering later.
Colour data and phenology
Classified red, with RHS 53A–53B tones; buds open ruby red, deepening to carmine and burgundy with occasional darkened edges, then mellowing into maroon, showing moderate, attractive colour evolution.
Fragrance and aroma
Produces a medium-strength fragrance with a fresh, fruity character best appreciated near seating or paths; double flowers give limited value to pollinators, emphasising its role as a visual ornamental.
Hip characteristics
Occasionally sets small, ellipsoidal hips around 9–15 mm in diameter; these ripen to red and add modest seasonal interest without significantly affecting overall flowering performance.
Resistance and winter hardiness
Rated to around −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7; Swedish Zon 4; USDA 5b), but highly susceptible to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, so reliable performance requires regular plant-protection routines.
Horticultural recommendations
Best suited to pergolas, walls, fences, pillars, hedges and specimen use in sunny to lightly shaded spots, spaced 165–270 cm apart; thrives in well-drained soil with attentive, preventative care.
ILLUSION® offers rich red climbing blooms, flexible training for arches and walls, and durable own-root growth for long-term structure, making it a refined choice for gardeners planning a lasting feature rose.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
ILLUSION® – red climbing rose - Kordes
Product Type:
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Flower Colour Description:
The petals are full and of a uniform blood-red hue. In bright light they take on a darker tone.
Closed Bud:
Dark garnet red with a matte surface; its shade is barely distinguishable from the open petals.
Newly Opened Flower:
The outer petals are vivid ruby red, the inner petals are a slightly darker, velvety crimson.
Full Bloom:
The colour is a deepening carmine red, occasionally with a subtle blackening at the edges.
Before Fading:
The red tone gradually mellows into maroon, with a pale crimson overlay.
Colour Fading Description:
As the bloom opens, the ruby-red hue deepens to carmine, then before flowering out it mutes to burgundy with a faint purple overlay; the overall effect shows moderate fading.
Pollinator Attraction:
Double-flowered (40+ petals) blooms, where the flower form obscures stamen accessibility, provide only limited attraction to pollinators.
Pollinator-Friendly Rating:
Its double flowers attract pollinators only to a limited extent, so it is primarily an ornamental variety.
Maintenance Requirement:
Maintenance requirement high; due to poor disease resistance it requires regular plant‑protection treatments and increased attention.
Our product is a rose grown with pharmaROSA®’s unique cultivation technology!
2-litre, own-root, potted rose.
With a shoot system appropriate to the season.
With a root system that thoroughly permeates the growing medium.
Quality compliant with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
Supplied in unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-variety rose bush with a unique identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Crop overview: several varieties and growth stages in a short crop section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: demonstration of a vigorous root system permeating the growing medium, by removing the pot.Balance: mature plant with root system and shoots in harmony with each other.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”; it illustrates the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root cultivation in a tangible way: how the plant is built up, what the root system is like and how the shoot system regenerates. The recordings were therefore made at different times and with plants at various stages of development, so mixed foliage levels and differing stages of growth may appear in the videos. They are not a ‘sample’ of the batch dispatched, but a visual explanation of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical for the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown in the upper part of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
