FLAME DANCE – red climbing rose – Kordes
Create a corner of glowing romance in your Irish garden with Flame Dance, a classic climbing rose whose vivid, velvety red blooms bring cheerful contentment to cottage walls and Dublin terrace fronts. Its semi-double flowers open wide, making pollen easily accessible for bees that thrive even when summers are cool and the weather brings frequent soft rainfall and misty days. You can enjoy a lovely, medium-strength, spicy-sweet fragrance from large clusters of blooms, with colour that stays rich from scarlet to deep cherry-red. Planted on its own roots in our manageable 2‑litre container, it establishes steadily for long-term longevity, forming a dense, leafy screen with sturdy, climbing structure that clothes pergolas, fences and arches. Give it a sunny spot with decent drainage and a simple seasonal pruning routine, and it will reward regular care with generous flowering and a natural, wildlife-friendly charm that fits effortlessly into “girly” cottage planting and soft, green, front-garden schemes.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Irish cottage garden front wall |
Perfect for training along a sunny cottage façade, where its vivid deep red, semi-double blooms create instant storybook romance and good pollen access for bees; own-root planting supports a long-lived, well-anchored framework for beginners. |
| Dublin terraced-house railings or fence |
Clothes modest front boundaries with a tall, dense curtain of foliage and flowers, adding privacy and softening hard lines; its vigorous climbing habit quickly covers railings and narrow fences when tied in regularly, suiting space-conscious urbanites. |
| Pergolas and rose arches |
Large, cup-shaped clusters in vivid red make a dramatic overhead display on arches and pergolas, while the medium, spicy-sweet scent drifts down at head height; strong canes build a long-term framework appreciated by romantics. |
| Family seating area backdrop |
Forms a leafy, mid-green screen that frames patios or play spaces, with repeating flushes of bloom through the season for continuing interest; the open-centred flowers attract pollinating insects, delighting nature-aware families. |
| Mixed cottage border with perennials |
Blends harmoniously with airy perennials like Coreopsis and hemp-agrimony, where its rich red flowers stand out without clashing; semi-double blooms and accessible stamens boost pollinator traffic for wildlife-focused gardeners. |
| Long-term feature on own roots |
As an own-root climber, it rebuilds from the base if damaged, instead of reverting to a rootstock, giving stable ornamental value over many years; expect roots to settle in year one, shoots to build in year two, then full presence in year three for patient owners. |
| Large container on sunny terrace (40–50 L+) |
In a generously sized pot of at least 40–50 litres, it can be trained up a trellis or arch to bring colour and scent to paved spaces; regular feeding and watering keep flowering reliable for busy-but-enthusiastic balconistas. |
| Heat-exposed, sheltered spots |
Handles warm, sun-baked positions well when given consistent watering in prolonged dry spells, making it suitable for south-facing walls; this resilience is reassuring near coastal or urban heat spots for practical-minded homeowners. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage Romance Arch – Train Flame Dance over a wooden arch, underplant with pink foxgloves and soft geraniums for a storybook entrance – ideal for sentimental cottage-garden lovers
- Terrace Showstopper – Grow it in a 50‑litre pot with a slim obelisk, adding lavender at the base to echo its scent and draw bees – perfect for compact front gardens
- Soft Privacy Screen – Cover a wire fence with Flame Dance and weave through white obedient plant for a light, lacy contrast – suited to families wanting pretty seclusion
- Red-and-Gold Border – Combine its deep red blooms with threadleaf coreopsis and feathery grasses for a warm, informal border – great for relaxed, low-fuss planters
- Evening Scent Corner – Place seating near a pergola clothed in Flame Dance and pale companion roses so the spicy-sweet perfume is enjoyed at dusk – perfect for after-work unwinders
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose, Hybrid Rubiginosa large-flowered climber; registered as KORflata, marketed as Flame Dance Climbing rose KORflata; ARS exhibition name Flammentanz; collection: climbing rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm J. H. Kordes II, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, from Rosa eglanteria × Rosa kordesii; introduced 1955, unregistered year noted as 1965 in breeding records. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the historic ADR distinction from 1952, reflecting earlier performance assessments; remains a classic, widely grown climbing variety valued for colour impact in many gardens. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 240–400 cm high and 100–200 cm wide; dense, mid-green, slightly glossy foliage; canes are strongly armed with numerous prickles, forming a thick, cover-forming structure. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped flowers with 13–25 petals, sized 7–10 cm, borne in clusters; remontant with a strong main flush and lighter repeat later, many spent blooms remain and benefit from occasional deadheading. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Vivid rich red flowers, ARS MR, RHS 53A outer, 53B inner; buds dark carmine, opening scarlet and deepening to dark cherry-red with a slight black veil; colour holds well and stays intense until petal fall. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, pleasantly spicy-sweet scent noticeable around the plant in still air; enough character for enjoyment near paths or seating, especially when blooms are grouped on arches and pergolas. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rosehip set is generally low; where present, hips are egg-shaped, orange-red, about 18–26 mm in diameter, adding modest seasonal interest without dominating the plant’s overall appearance. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around −29 to −26 °C (H7, USDA 5a, Sweden zone 4); tolerates heat but needs watering in extended drought; disease resistance is modest, with notable black spot sensitivity needing regular protection. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on sunny walls, fences, arches or pergolas; prefers well-drained, fertile soil and regular feeding; plant 140–225 cm apart depending on use; needs training, pruning and fungicide support in high-pressure areas. |
FLAME DANCE – red climbing rose – Kordes offers dramatic red colour, spicy-sweet fragrance and a long-term own-root framework for pergolas or walls, making it a thoughtful choice for those planning a lasting garden feature.
