ANTIKE 89™ – red-white climbing rose - Kordes
Bring a touch of nostalgic charm to your Irish garden with Antike 89™, a reliable climbing rose that clothes arches and walls in generous, bi-coloured blooms. Its very full, cup-shaped flowers blend creamy white with vivid red edges for an old-fashioned romance that suits both a “girly” cottage border and a smart Dublin terrace. Once settled, this climber repeats flowering through the short Irish summer, giving colour well beyond a single flush, even when gardens face frequent showers and cool sea breezes from the Atlantic winds. Dense, glossy foliage builds a lasting green screen, while the own-root form promises a long-lived, regenerating structure that copes well with everyday family life. With simple planting and steady care, you can look forward to roots in the first year, stronger shoots in the second, and full ornamental impact by the third.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Pergola in a cottage-style back garden |
Strongly remontant flowering and dense foliage make this climber ideal for covering a pergola with long-lasting colour and shade. Medium maintenance means occasional deadheading and tying-in are enough for most hobby gardeners, including beginners. |
| Front-garden arch on a Dublin terrace |
The bi-coloured, old-fashioned blooms create a welcoming focal point over a path or gate without demanding expert pruning. With steady growth between roughly 225–375 cm, it forms a graceful arch for urban homeowners and busy gardeners. |
| South- or west-facing wall in a family garden |
Antike 89™ thrives best in full sun on a warm wall, where its good colour retention and generous second flush can be appreciated from the house. Moderate care and training suit time-pressed but style-conscious owners. |
| Fence divider between neighbouring gardens |
Its dense, glossy foliage and climbing habit create a living partition that feels softer than timber fencing. Recommended spacings allow a continuous line of flowers with only moderate pruning, ideal for privacy-seeking families. |
| Pillar or obelisk feature in a lawn |
Used on a tall pillar, the cup-shaped, very full flowers stand at eye level, perfect for close-up viewing. Own-root stamina means the plant can be renewed from the base over time, appealing to long-term-minded garden planners. |
| Cut-flower corner in a mixed border |
The large, full blooms on cluster stems are well suited to cutting for vases, with attractive colour both in buds and when open. Planting at the back of a border keeps thorns away from play areas yet rewards creative home florists. |
| Clay soil bed with improved drainage |
In heavier Irish soils, adding grit and compost around the planting hole helps roots establish a robust framework. Once settled, moderate disease resistance and reliable repeat flowering cope well with cool, changeable summers for practical home gardeners. |
| Large container near a sunny patio (40–60 L) |
In a big, well-drained pot of at least 40–50 litres, this climber can dress a balcony or small terrace, given regular watering in dry spells. Own-root planting provides stability and long-term value for space-limited city residents. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Romantic – Train Antike 89™ over a timber arch with garden phlox and soft perennials beneath, for a pastel, storybook entrance – perfect for nostalgic cottage-garden lovers.
- Urban-Formal – Grow it on a sleek metal arch with clipped box or barberry for contrast, letting the red-white flowers provide a sophisticated accent – ideal for design-aware city front-garden owners.
- Family-Restful – Use it on a pergola above a seating area, underplanted with blue fescue and low-maintenance groundcovers – suited to families wanting shade, colour, and minimal fuss.
- Colour-Show – Plant several along a sunny fence, mixing with complementary red and white shrubs for a band of repeat colour – great for enthusiasts who enjoy a reliable summer display.
- Feature-Pillar – Spiral it up an obelisk in a lawn or large pot, keeping underplanting simple with grasses so the blooms take centre stage – ideal for gardeners who like a single strong focal point.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose cultivar Antike 89™ (KORdalen), large-flowered climber, registered with ICRA and ARS in 1988; commercial exhibition name Antike 89, classified as an exhibition climbing rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by W. Kordes & Sons in Germany from (‘Grand Hotel’ × ‘Sympathie’) × (unnamed seedling × ‘Arthur Bell’); breeding completed 1987, first commercial launch 1989 by W. Kordes’ Söhne. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 225–375 cm with a 70–130 cm spread; dense, glossy dark-green foliage on thorny canes, needing support and training for arches, pergolas, walls or pillars. |
| Flower morphology |
Large cup-shaped flowers, 7–10 cm across, very full with 40+ petals; produced mainly in clusters, strongly remontant with a generous second flush; moderate self-cleaning, some spent blooms need removal. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Striking red-white bicolour; creamy-white base with rich red margins, ARS rb, RHS NN155C outer and 45A inner; colour long-lasting, only moderate fading in strong sun; buds and ageing blooms remain attractive. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Roses are effectively scentless with no noticeable fragrance; flowers are bred for visual impact rather than perfume, making Antike 89™ a choice for colour-focused gardeners and sensitive households. |
| Hip characteristics |
Due to the very double flowers, hip set is sparse; where pollination succeeds, it forms occasional ellipsoidal orange-red hips, about 12–18 mm in diameter, adding light seasonal interest in late season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated hardy to about −32 to −29 °C (USDA 4b, RHS H7), with moderate resistance to black spot, mildew and rust; tolerates summer heat reasonably but needs watering in prolonged drought, especially in containers. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil; prefers improved clay with compost and grit; spacing 90–180 cm depending on use; support and tie-in canes; suitable for pergolas, arches, walls, fences, pillars and cutting. |
Antike 89™ Climbing rose KORdalen offers nostalgic red-white flowers, reliable repeat blooming and long-term own-root resilience; kindly consider it if you seek a graceful, enduring climber for your garden.
