KISS ME KATE® – pink climbing rose – Kordes
Fragrant garden arches, romantic cottage walls and reliable flowering displays all come naturally to KISS ME KATE®, a mid-pink climbing rose bred for health and low-effort beauty. Its very double, rosette blooms keep returning through the season with an abundant second flush, filling the air with a citrus and apple perfume that has been recognised with major international fragrance awards. Glossy dark green foliage and strong disease resistance make it well suited to British family gardens, even where summers are cool and humid, provided it is planted in a reasonably sunny position with sensible drainage. As an own-root pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL plant, it builds a durable framework over the years, naturally regenerating from the base for a long, stable display that suits both beginners and time-pressed gardeners who want a rose that simply works.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden arch or pergola by the entrance |
KISS ME KATE® climbs vigorously to around 2–3 m, making it ideal for framing a front-garden arch or porch, while its very strong citrus-and-apple fragrance greets you every time you pass the doorway, suiting lovers-of-scented-roses |
| South- or west-facing house wall |
The dense, glossy foliage and repeat-flowering rosette blooms create a soft, romantic backdrop on a sunny house wall; once tied in, the structure is long-lived and easy to maintain with straightforward pruning, fitting busy-homeowners |
| Cottage-style mixed border with vertical accent |
Its mid-pink clusters blend seamlessly with foxgloves and informal perennials, giving reliable vertical colour from early summer onwards; own-root growth ensures the framework thickens year by year for a durable cottage effect for style-conscious-beginners |
| Small group of climbers along a front fence |
Planted 1.4–1.5 m apart, a short row of plants forms a softly scented, low-maintenance screen; strong disease resistance reduces spraying or specialist care, ideal where a tidy look is needed with minimal effort for low-maintenance-seekers |
| Family seating area or terrace backdrop |
The garden-filling perfume and repeated flushes of medium-large blooms make an excellent backdrop to patios and seating corners; regular deadheading is simple and the plant’s height gives privacy without feeling heavy, suiting family-garden-users |
| Large container (minimum 40–50 litres) with obelisk |
In a generous pot with good drainage, KISS ME KATE® can be trained up an obelisk to bring height and fragrance onto hard landscaping; own-root resilience helps it adapt well to container life, appealing to urban-balcony-and-terrace-gardeners |
| Cutting bed for scented rose stems |
The large, very double blooms on clustered stems provide beautifully perfumed flowers for the house; remontant flowering means stems can be taken across the season without weakening the plant unduly, ideal for home-flower-arrangers |
| Exposed, humid British sites needing reliable health |
With good resistance to black spot, mildew and rust, this variety keeps its glossy foliage even where air is damp and breezy, giving stable colour without complex spraying routines and coping well with typically wet, wind-prone seasons for |
Styling ideas
- COTTAGE ARCH – Train over a simple timber arch with foxgloves and hardy geraniums at the base for a classic cottage welcome – ideal for front-garden romantics.
- SOFT SCREEN – Use along a low fence with ornamental grasses such as Hakonechloa to create a light, rustling, scented boundary – perfect for overlooked family plots.
- PORCH DRAPES – Fan-train against a porch or garage wall, underplanting with lavender for a neat, fragrant combination – suited to neat, low-effort front gardens.
- TEA-ROSE TERRACE – Grow in a large container with an obelisk beside seating, adding herbs in pots for a sensory corner – appealing to small-terrace and balcony owners.
- SCENTED WALK – Plant a short run of climbers along a path with catmint and salvias for colour and perfume on every stroll – for those who value evening garden atmosphere.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose KISS ME KATE® (KORnagelio), large-flowered climber from the Klettermaxe® collection; ARS exhibition name Kiss Me Kate; marketed under several trade names including Kiss Me Kate®. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm-Alexander Kordes (Germany); parentage ‘DELeri’ (Nahéma) × (‘KORgosumu’ × ‘KORvanaber’); introduced after 2019 by W. Kordes’ Söhne, with US registration in 2019 (PP 30 810). |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated fragrant climber: multiple prizes including Kortrijk Fragrance Award and Gold Medal (2016), Tokyo Silver Medal (2016), Le Roeulx Fragrance Award (2017), La Tacita First Prize (2017), Lyon Jury Special Prize (2017), Glasgow Gold Medal (2020). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Strong, upright climbing habit reaching approximately 2–3.3 m high with a 0.9–1.6 m spread; moderately thorny canes carry dense, dark green, glossy foliage that forms a well-covered, leafy framework over supports. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, rosette-shaped blooms with over 40 petals; medium-large flowers borne mostly in clusters; remontant character with a particularly rich second flush, suitable for decorative display and cutting through the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Medium-bright pink overall (RHS 64B outer, 62C inner); buds open deep pink, then soften to mid-pink and eventually pale pink with a light silvery sheen, with faster fading in strong sun and better colour retention in cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very strong, garden-filling fragrance with clear citrus and apple notes; bred and awarded specifically for scent quality, making it an excellent choice where aromatic impact around seating areas and entrances is a key design aim. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to the very double flower form, hip set is typically low; if hips develop, they are small, around 0–4 mm in diameter, and of minor ornamental value compared with the prominent display of flowers. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated H7 with hardiness around −26 to −23 °C (USDA 5b, Swedish Zone 4); good resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, remaining dependable under typical British garden conditions with appropriate watering in dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; train on arches, pergolas, fences or walls, spacing 1.4–2.25 m depending on effect; regular watering in dry periods and light pruning keep plants healthy while maintenance remains relatively low. |
KISS ME KATE® brings award-winning fragrance, repeat flowering and reliable health on a long-lived own-root framework, making it an excellent choice if you would like a romantic yet easy-going climber for your garden.
