CRIMSON GLORY – deep red climbing rose - Kordes
Step out after the rain and your small front garden can be filled with the sweet-spicy perfume of Crimson flowers, their velvety petals glowing against healthy, dark green foliage. This classic Kordes climbing rose is ideal for London terraces and compact family plots where you want maximum impact from minimal effort: simply plant into improved soil with good drainage and enjoy reliable flowering even where wind and showers are frequent in the season. Supplied as a robust own-root plant in a pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre pot, it settles gradually and rewards you over time – think strong roots in year one, confident new shoots in year two, and full ornamental value by year three, with old wood easily renewing itself for a long garden lifespan. Trained on a porch, arch or trellis, it brings structure, balance and drama without demanding complicated pruning or intensive care.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Rainwater-friendly terraced-house front garden |
Train Crimson Glory up a simple trellis or wires beside your front door, letting the foliage intercept rain and soften hard paving. Deep colour and strong scent create a welcoming entrance while the own-root plant quietly builds long-term structure with little intervention – ideal for the busy urban gardener |
| Low-maintenance family seating area |
Placed near a bench or patio, its extremely strong fragrance means you enjoy evening scent without needing a huge planting scheme. Basic deadheading and occasional feeding are usually sufficient, thanks to its generally good disease resistance and reliable repeat flushes – perfect for time-poor homeowners |
| Vertical accent for small gardens |
Use Crimson Glory on a narrow obelisk, rose arch or slim pergola to lift colour upwards instead of using precious ground space. The bushy, upright habit and moderate height are easy to manage, giving structure without overshadowing neighbouring plants – useful for compact-plot beginners |
| Romantic porch or balcony screen (large containers) |
In a 40–50 litre pot with rich, peat-free compost and regular watering, this climber clothes railings or a porch post in deep red blooms. Own-root vigour supports steady regeneration, so the display recovers well from pruning and occasional neglect – reassuring for container-focused city dwellers |
| Cut-flower and fragrance corner |
Its cupped, velvety blooms and classic hybrid-tea character were bred for exhibition, so stems cut in bud open beautifully indoors. A dedicated cutting corner allows you to harvest generously without spoiling the overall effect on arches or walls – appealing to scent-loving hobby gardeners |
| Climate-resilient, low-intervention border backbone |
Crimson Glory copes well with typical British swings between wet, cool spells and warmer summers, provided the planting hole drains freely on heavier soils. Once established, it forms a stable, woody framework that responds well to renewal pruning – valuable for long-term planners |
| Statement feature on pergolas and rose arches |
Where you want drama from a small planting footprint, this climber delivers intense colour and form along overhead structures. Its remontant habit gives a generous second flush, so arches and walkways remain decorative well beyond early summer – ideal for design-conscious garden owners |
| Heritage-style rose collection |
With renowned awards for both garden performance and fragrance, this historic Kordes rose fits beautifully into traditional or period schemes. Own-root plants help preserve the character of the cultivar over time, reducing the risk of graft suckers – important for discerning collectors |
Styling ideas
- Velvet-porch – Frame a terraced-house doorway with Crimson Glory on discreet tensioned wires, underplanting with lavender or nepeta to echo its rich red tones – for urban romantics seeking classic charm.
- Evening-nook – Train the rose up a compact obelisk beside a small seating area, pairing with dusky salvias and scented dianthus for night-time fragrance – for families who relax outdoors after work.
- Arched-entry – Let two plants meet over a narrow path on a metal arch, with airy verbena and ornamental grasses at the base to keep the look light – for those wanting maximum impact in minimal space.
- Balcony-screen – In a 50 litre container, guide stems along a simple lattice, combining with trailing herbs to soften edges and make watering more purposeful – for city-dwellers greening rented spaces.
- Heritage-border – Mix Crimson Glory with old-style perennials such as garden pinks and catmint, choosing muted whites and silvers to highlight its deep colour – for gardeners building a long-lived, traditional scheme.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
CRIMSON GLORY – deep red climbing rose - Kordes; large-flowered climbing rose within the Climber group; commercial climbing rose type; ARS exhibition name Crimson Glory; unregistered variety in trade. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm J. H. Kordes II, W. Kordes’ Söhne, from ‘Catherine Kordes’ × ‘W. E. Chaplin’; introduced 1935 via Jackson & Perkins, with breeding work completed in the United States around 1946. |
| Awards and recognition |
Royal National Rose Society Gold Medal in 1936 for garden performance and beauty; American Rose Society James Alexander Gamble Fragrance Medal in 1961 acknowledging its exceptional, intense scent. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright climber reaching about 90–160 cm high and 70–120 cm wide; moderately dense, dark green, slightly glossy foliage; densely thorned stems; requires support when used on arches, pergolas or house walls. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, cupped blooms with 26–39 petals, usually borne solitarily on stems; remontant, giving a generous second flush after the main early summer display; poor self-cleaning so benefits from regular deadheading. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Velvety deep-red blooms (RHS 53A outer, 53B inner), buds dark burgundy; colour may deepen and take on a bluish cast in strong sun, staying richer in cooler conditions; overall effect is a dark, dramatic red presence. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Extremely strong, garden-filling fragrance with a sweet-spicy, classic rose character; one of the most powerfully scented climbing roses, suitable for planting near paths, seats, doors or windows to maximise enjoyment. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally slight due to double flower form; where pollination succeeds, small spherical red hips around 8–12 mm across may develop, adding modest late-season interest without affecting flowering. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Good overall disease resistance, rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy to approximately –26 to –23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); moderate heat tolerance with extra watering in dry spells. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers full sun and well-drained soil; space 125–220 cm depending on use. Ideal for arches, pergolas, walls and as a specimen; water deeply in dry periods and deadhead to encourage repeat bloom on established plants. |
CRIMSON GLORY – deep red climbing rose - Kordes rewards you with velvety colour, outstanding fragrance and manageable vertical structure, while its own-root form supports reliable long-term performance; an assured choice if you value lasting beauty and ease.
