'Summer romance'

'summer romance'

Class: Floribunda
Growth Habit: Upright, bushy growth to about 4 feet
Color: Dark Pink

Disease Resistance: 52 (out of 60)
Flowering: 28 (out of 30)
Fragrance: 10 (out of 10)
Total Rating: 90 (out of 100)

This rose belongs to the Parfuma collection by Kordes Roses and like many of their modern releases it combines disease resistance with intensely fragrant, romantic blooms. 'Summer Romance' is extremely vigorous, growing very bushy and covering itself with highly scented blooms. The buds are a dark pink and open up to reveal a quartered cup-shaped bloom-- much like a rose from centuries past. The dark green foliage is glossy and very disease resistant. The fragrance is described as extraordinary, startling the senses with notes of sharp citron, berries, and apples. In my Maine gardens, 'Summer Romance' was one of the first roses to bloom for me in the late spring and one of the last to show in the fall. This rose represents everything you could desire in a rose for the chemical-free garden

Introduced in 2014 by Kordes (KORtekcho); also known as 'Countess Marie Henriette'

ALL OF THE ROSES HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS SECTION ARE PART OF WHAT I CALL "NEW MILLENNIAL" ROSES

ALL SCORES ARE BASED ON MY DATA AND RECORD KEEPING

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MILLENNIAL ROSES

'Poseidon'

'poseidon'

Class: Floribunda
Growth Habit: Upright, bushy growth to about 4 feet
Color: Lavender

Disease Resistance: 57 (out of 60)
Flowering: 26 (out of 30)
Fragrance: 9 (out of 10)
Total Rating: 92 (out of 100)

In Greek mythology Poseidon is the god of the sea, water, earthquakes, and horses and is called the Earth Shaker. The rose lives up to this mythological moniker, as lavender roses are rarely able to shake off disease pressure, but this is an exception. The growth on 'Poseidon' is very strong, consistent, and full. The flowers are borne in clusters, with a darker bud color like a cabernet wine that contrasts with the open lavender petals beautifully. The bloom is fully petaled and the edges of the petals are almost scalloped. This is a superb rose, able to tolerate a wide range of climates, and is an ADR Rose Award winner (2013)

Introduced in 2010 by Kordes (KORfriedhar); also sold as Novalis

ALL OF THE ROSES HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS SECTION ARE PART OF WHAT I CALL "NEW MILLENNIAL" ROSES

ALL SCORES ARE BASED ON MY DATA AND RECORD KEEPING

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MILLENNIAL ROSES

'Darlow's Enigma'

'darlow's enigma'

Class: Hybrid Musk
Growth Habit: tall, bushy and upright
Color: White

Disease Resistance: 60 (out of 60)
Flowering: 23 (out of 30)
Fragrance: 7 (out of 10)
Total Rating: 90 (out of 100)

This is one of my all-time favorite roses. Traditionally, when someone discovers a rose that can't be identified, they have the right to name the rose. 'Darlow's Enigma' was discovered circa 1995 by Mike Darlow, and he clearly couldn't discern much about its provenance, hence the name! No matter how this rose is identified, I am just thankful that it is around for gardeners to enjoy.

The reason I love this rose so much is its generosity in the landscape. I have grown 'Darlow's Enigma' in a multitude of gardens and it just keeps on giving. It grows quite tall and bushy, with a deep green foliage that is always healthy and vibrant. I don't think I have ever seen any black spot on this rose. The flowers are small, consisting of seven to eight petals that are arranged in the most charming way. They open flat to perfectly frame a burst of yellow stamens that seem to have so much presence and energy. The effect is magnified as the flowers are produced in clusters that follow one after another. The fragrance can be described as strong.

ALL OF THE ROSES HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS SECTION ARE PART OF WHAT I CALL "NEW MILLENNIAL" ROSES

ALL SCORES ARE BASED ON MY DATA AND RECORD KEEPING

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MILLENNIAL ROSES

'First Crush'

Class: Floribunda
Growth Habit: Bushy to about 3 feet
Color: Lightest creamy pink

Disease Resistance: 50 (out of 60)
Flowering: 25 (out of 30)
Fragrance: 10 (out of 10)
Total Rating: 85 (out of 100)

Not only does this rose have high disease resistance, but also 'First Crush' satisfies the senses in every way. It produces clusters of lushly fragrant blooms. As the buds begin to open they reveal a dark red, almost plum color, but the petals quickly unfurl to a most delicate creamy pink. The combination of buds and open blooms in a single cluster is really beautiful. To my eye, the whole effect is a throwback to the roses of bygone days. With the German name 'Constanze Mozart', I imagine this rose growing in Mozart's own garden, while the sound of his sonatas echoes through the garden paths.

Introduced in 2012 by Kordes as 'Constanze Mozart' (KORmaccap).

All of the roses highlighted in this section are part of what I call "New Millennial" Roses

All scores are based on my data and record keeping

Click here for more information on Millennial Roses

'Grande Amore'

'Grande amore'

Class: Hybrid Tea
Growth Habit: tall and upright
Color: true red

Disease Resistance: 48 (out of 60)
Flowering: 20 (out of 30)
Fragrance: 1 (out of 10)
Total Rating: 69 (out of 100)

Since February is the month for lovers... I am highlighting this rose for this month:

One would think that the classic red rose would be just that -- strong and symbolic, with a high-centered flower, wonderful fragrance, and long stems for cutting. Visitors often come into my garden looking for the classic red Hybrid Tea 'Mr. Lincoln', which they expect to have all these features. But much to their disappointment, I removed 'Mr. Lincoln' from the garden long ago due to its disease susceptibility.

I have included 'Grande Amore' here despite the fact that it doesn't have the strongest disease rating because it is one of the best red roses available, and a good alternative to 'Mr. Lincoln'. I've been growing this rose in the high-disease-pressure regions of the East Coast and have seen some black spot, but growers on the West Coast sing its praises. 'Grande Amore' is one of the few Hybrid Tea roses to have been award the prestigious ADR Rose Award in 2005, and gold medals at many other trials including Portland Rose Trials in 2010 so it is certainly performing well in many different regions.

Introduced in 2004 by Kordes (KORcoluma).

ALL OF THE ROSES HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS SECTION ARE PART OF WHAT I CALL "NEW MILLENNIAL" ROSES

ALL SCORES ARE BASED ON MY DATA AND RECORD KEEPING

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MILLENNIAL ROSES

'Dark Desire'

'dark desire'

Class: Hybrid Tea
Growth Habit: Bushy, upright habit to 4 feet
Color: Violet-red

Disease Resistance: 55 (out of 60)
Flowering: 28 (out of 30)
Fragrance: 10 (out of 10)
Total Rating: 93 (out of 100)

In honor of Valentine's Day... I am highlighting this rose:

More than twenty years ago, the hybridizers at the Kordes rose company decided that breeding healthy, no-spray roses should be their primary ambition, and that is still the goal with every rose they grow today. 'Dark Desire' is part of their Parfuma collection and it is a beautiful, sensuous rose -- everything you could want from a Hybrid Tea. From buds that are almost black, the cupped flowers emerge with a unique violet-red color before opening into a cupped bloom that displays a spectrum of color from red to violet to purple to even darker hues. The foliage is very resistant to fungal disease and is a bright glossy green. The fragrance of this rose can be described as sophisticated, with intertwining floral and fruity aspects. With its classic form, the deep rich color, and sensual fragrance, this rose is indeed desirable. Other roses in the Parfuma collection also belie the contention that modern roses have no fragrance; 'First Crush' and 'Summer Romance' are examples.

Introduced in 2014 by Kordes (KORdiagraf) also sold as 'Grafin Diana' in Europe.