TRADITION 95 ® – red climbing rose – Kordes
Step out to your front garden after rain and let the deep red blooms of TRADITION 95 ® line your path with a sense of balance and easy rhythm, their semi-double flowers gently catching the light while bees move between the open stamens. Bred by Kordes and supplied as an own-root climber, this long-lived rose establishes steadily and then rewards you with reliable flowering on fences, porches and house fronts, even where wind and wet weather often test other plants with their persistent gusts. Its glossy dark foliage and dense flowering help soften brickwork and railings, making a small London terrace feel quietly elegant and surprisingly lush. In the first year it concentrates on root-building, the second brings confident new shoots, and by the third you can expect full ornamental value and a settled, sustainable structure. TRADITION 95 ® is an excellent choice where you want long-season colour, modest maintenance and a planting that works well with rainwater-conscious surfaces, keeping your front garden welcoming yet reassuringly simple to look after.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden rose arch over a narrow path |
Its climbing habit and 2.75–3.95 inch semi-double flowers create a classic, inviting arch without demanding complex pruning, and the mild, slightly sweet fragrance enhances that after-rain walkway feel for the busy urban gardener. |
| Vertical greening on a London terrace wall or fence |
With a height of 2.4–3.8 m and moderate spread, it clothes walls and railings in glossy dark foliage and deep red blooms, turning hard boundaries into soft, elegant screens ideal for the space-conscious homeowner. |
| Rainwater-friendly, low-lawn front garden scheme |
Works well beside permeable paving and gravel, with roots that steadily strengthen year on year, giving long-lived structure and colour while handling typical wet, windy British spells for the sustainability-minded planter. |
| Pollinator-supporting entrance or side return |
Semi-double, chalice-shaped clusters leave stamens accessible, so bees can forage easily, adding ecological value and movement around a front door or side path that suits the wildlife-aware beginner. |
| Training along a pergola in a family garden |
Remontant flowering and generous second flush provide months of colour overhead, with moderate maintenance needs and reliable hardiness down to about –20 °C, making it practical for the time-poor family. |
| Statement climber for urban green spaces |
Awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it offers proven performance, moderate disease resistance and a dignified, uniform red display that stands up well in public or shared settings valued by the quality-focused buyer. |
| Large container on balcony or courtyard (40–50 L+) |
In a substantial 40–50 litre container, its own-root form supports long-term vigour and easier regeneration after pruning, giving a stable feature rose with minimal specialist care for the container-focused resident. |
| Long-term structural climber on house façade |
The own-root plant builds a durable framework over several seasons, rebounds well from weather or pruning setbacks, and maintains ornamental value across many years, aligning with the long-view homeowner. |
Styling ideas
- Terrace-Theatre – Train TRADITION 95 ® over a slim arch with gravel underfoot, letting deep red blooms frame the front door while bees work the semi-double flowers – ideal for nature-curious city families.
- Brick-Softener – Fan it on wires across a London brick wall and underplant with lavender and nepeta to contrast cool blues against its red clusters – suited to homeowners taming hard urban lines.
- Rain-Ready – Combine with low grasses and permeable paths, using its vertical growth to keep colour above rain-slicked paving – perfect for those redesigning front gardens for better drainage.
- Balcony-Gallery – In a 50 L pot, pair with trailing thyme and sage for scent underfoot while the climber provides a red backdrop – good for flat-dwellers wanting a compact, showy screen.
- Evening-Pergola – Weave along a slim pergola, interplanting with soft white perennials like baby’s-breath to glow at dusk beneath the rich red roses – appealing to relaxed entertainers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Large-flowered climbing rose; registered as KORkeltin, marketed as TRADITION 95 ®, also known as Tradition™ for exhibition use within the climbing rose category. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Tim-Hermann Kordes, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany; breeding and registration in 1995, introduced commercially from 1998 as a premium, exhibition-quality climbing rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds RHS Award of Garden Merit (2001) with multiple international medals, including Belfast Certificate of Merit (1998) and Gold Medal at The Hague (2003). |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit with 2.4–3.8 m height and 1–1.6 m spread, moderately dense, glossy dark green foliage and dense prickles; self-cleaning weak, so spent flowers may need light deadheading. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped blooms, 13–25 petals, large-flowered clusters on laterals, remontant with a generous second flush, giving extended seasonal display on trained supports. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Even, radiant red tonality: crimson buds open vivid scarlet, deepening to intense red, later fading toward muted purplish-red; colour holds moderately well even under strong sunlight. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, slightly sweet fragrance noticeable at close range without overpowering nearby seating areas; semi-double form leaves stamens visible, adding some sensory interest for visitors. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate numbers of small, 13–17 mm spherical red hips, adding quiet late-season colour and incidental wildlife interest once the main flowering has eased back. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around –21 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3); disease resistance moderate to mildew, black spot and rust, benefitting from basic hygiene and good air circulation. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on pergolas, arches, walls or fences with 1.4–2.7 m spacing; suits partial shade, average garden soils with decent drainage, and straightforward tying-in and annual pruning. |
TRADITION 95 ® offers award-backed, long-season red flowering on a dependable own-root climber that matures into a durable garden structure with modest care, a thoughtful option if you favour lasting, sustainable planting.
