Several rose breeding enterprises extend over multiple generations. Kordes and Meilland are two of the oldest and most influential with a continuous operating history. Wilhelm Kordes put the firm on the map with a number of very sturdy landscape and parkland roses. We discuss his work separately. In 1960 Reimer Kordes took the reins and his descendents manage the company today.
The one thread that unites all of Kordes work would seem to be a clear prioritization of rose qualities with vigor and disease resistance always receiving highest priority, form and foliferous qualities recieving high, but secondary priority, and fragrance being a desireable but optional quality. For those who are struck by one or more of Kordes cultivars and would have them regardless of fragrance, this is a good enough order of things. But those rose lovers who covet fragrance in all their roses will find this a tough list to navigate. Graham Thomas, in particular, finds a number of the vigorous shrubs 'scentless, soulless.'
I have failed with Crimson Bouquet and Robusta, in both cases growing them in dense impoverished , dry soil. I have been delighted with the progress of Autumn Sunset, a sport of Westerland. It seems to manage almost as well as some of my best albas. Folklore, too, has done very well for me. And though I am not very enamored of Elmshorn, it has managed to grow well in poor, dry soil and mostly shade. Carribbean I have seen in two municipal parks and it is one of a very tiny number of roses that have truly wowed me. I have also been impressed with Rote Max Graf and Helmut Schmidt. I cannot recall ever seeing a more perfectly shaped hybrid tea blossom than one produced by Helmut Schmidt growing at Vintage Gardens Roses in Sebastopol. But then, I don't get out much.
Still, for gardeners growing roses in the NE US and the plains states, many of Kordes offerings will survive where some of rosedom's prettier things will perish. And when this is the choice you have, it's not so difficult to make.
| Name | Color | Class | Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dornroschen | Salmon | Modern Shrub | 1960 | 8.4 |
| Golden Giant | Yellow | Cluster Flowered | 1960 | |
| Lavender Lassie | Lilac | Englsih Rose | 1960 | 8.1 |
| Morgengruss | Apricot | Modern Shrub | 1962 | |
| Weisse aus Sparrieshoop | White | Modern Shrub | 1962 | 8.5 |
| Ilse Krohn Superior | White | Modern Shrub | 1964 | 7.6 |
| Samba | Red/Yellow Blend | Cluster Flowered | 1964 | |
| Sympathie | Red | Large Flower Climber | 1964 | 8.1 |
| Lichtkonigin Lucia | Yellow | Modern Shrub | 1966 | 7.5 |
| Peter Frankenfield | Cerise | Large Flowered | 1966 | 8.0 |
| Silver Star | Mauve | Large Flowered | 1966 | 8.5 |
| Peer Gynt | Red/Yellow Blend | Large Flowered | 1968 | |
| Travemunde | Red | Cluster Flowered | 1968 | 8.8 |
| Oldtimer | Apricot | Large Flowered | 1969 | 5.9 |
| Westerland | Copper | Large Flower Climber | 1969 | 8.1 |
| Snowfire | Red/White Blend | Large Flowered | 1970 | |
| Tatjana | Red | Large Flowered | 1970 | |
| Uwe Seeler | Vermilion | Cluster Flowered | 1970 | 7.4 |
| Prominent | Vermilion | Large Flowered | 1971 | 7.5 |
| Schweizer Gold | Primrose | Large Flowered | 1972 | |
| Typhoon | Coral | Large Flowered | 1972 | |
| Marina | Orange | Cluster Flowered | 1974 | 7.4 |
| Seashell | Shell Pink | Large Flowered | 1976 | |
| Folklore | Salmon | Large Flowered | 1977 | 8.2 |
| Rosarium Uetersen | Coral | Large Flower Climber | 1977 | 8.5 |
| Sunsprite | Chrome Yellow | Cluster Flowered | 1977 | 8.7 |
| Gitte | Copper | Large Flowered | 1978 | 6.5 |
| Lavaglut | Red | Cluster Flowered | 1978 | 8.8 |
| Flamingo | Buff | Large Flowered | 1979 | 7.9 |
| Helmut Schmidt | Yellow | Large Flowered | 1979 | 7.2 |
| Robusta | Crimson | Hybrid Rugosa | 1979 | 9.0 |
| Rote Max Graf | Red | Hybrid Rugosa | 1980 | |
| Ace of Hearts | Crimson | Large Flowered | 1981 | |
| Bella Rosa | Rose | Floribunda | 1981 | 7.8 |
| Harmonie | Coral | Large Flowered | 1981 | 7.0 |
| Keepsake | Rose | Large Flowered | 1981 | 8.1 |
| Lady Rose | Coral | Large Flowered | 1981 | 7.7 |
| Elegant Beauty | Yellow | Large Flowered | 1982 | 8.1 |
| Hannah Gordon | Red/White Blend | Cluster Flowered | 1983 | 8.7 |
| Immensee | White | Ground Cover | 1983 | 8.9 |
| Royal William | Red | Large Flowered | 1984 | 6.7 |
| Anna Livia | Shell Pink | Cluster Flowered | 1985 | |
| Belami | White/Pink Blend | Hybrid Tea | 1985 | 7.3 |
| Bride’s Dream | Pale Pink | Large Flowered | 1985 | 8.0 |
| Elveshorn | Pink | Cluster Flowered | 1985 | 9.0 |
| Limelight | Yellow | Large Flowered | 1985 | 7.9 |
| Nicole | White/Pink Blend | Cluster Flowered | 1985 | 8.9 |
| Rosenresli | Coral & Candy Pink | Modern Shrub | 1985 | |
| Kardinal | Red | Large Flowered | 1986 | 8.6 |
| Raspberry Ice | Pink | Cluster Flowered | 1986 | 8.3 |
| Antike 89 | White/Pink Blend | Large Flower Climber | 1988 | |
| Kiss | Salmon | Cluster Flowered | 1988 | |
| Rosendorf Sparrieshoop | Pale Pink | Modern Shrub | 1988 | |
| Suffolk | Scarlet | Ground Cover | 1988 | 8.3 |
| Surrey | Coral & Pink | Ground Cover | 1988 | |
| Golden Holstein | Chrome Yellow | Cluster Flowered | 1989 | |
| Hampshire | Scarlet | Ground Cover | 1989 | |
| Perfect Moment | Red/Yellow Blend | Large Flowered | 1989 | 7.7 |
| Valencia | Apricot | Large Flowered | 1989 | 7.9 |
| Liebeszauber | Red | Large Flowered | 1990 | 7.9 |
| Red Ribbons | Red | Ground Cover | 1990 | 8.2 |
| Royal Bassino | Scarlet | Ground Cover | 1990 | |
| Hertfordshire | Cerise | Ground Cover | 1991 | |
| Andrea Steltzer | Pale Pink | Large Flowered | 1992 | 7.5 |
| Caribbean | Copper | Large Flowered | 1992 | 7.5 |
| Roselina | Cerise | Hybrid Rugosa | 1992 | |
| Blue Bayou | Lilac | Cluster Flowered | 1993 | |
| Pink Bassino | Pink | Modern Shrub | 1993 | |
| La Perla | Pale Pink | Cluster Flowered | 1994 | |
| Rosenprofessor Sieber | Candy Pink | Cluster Flowered | 1996 | |
| Sunny Sky | Apricot | Large Flowered | 1996 | |
| Vital | Scarlet | Large Flowered | 1996 | |
| Corvette | Coral | Large Flowered | 1997 | |
| Sebastian Kneipp | Buff | Large Flowered | 1997 | |
| Crimson Bouquet | Scarlet | Large Flowered | 1999 | 7.9 |
