RED RIBBONS – red groundcover rose – Kordes
If you dream of an easy, “girly” Irish cottage feel along a path or terrace front, RED RIBBONS brings flowing carpets of colour with minimal fuss, even where rainfall and damp weather can be a challenge. This vigorous groundcover rose quickly forms a low, spreading carpet of glossy dark foliage, scattered with vivid, ribbon-red blooms from early summer well into autumn. Own-root plants settle in securely and promise a long lifespan, standing up to years of family use and simple pruning. Think of it as Year 1 roots establishing, Year 2 shoots filling out, and Year 3 giving full ornamental impact with reliable, self-cleaning flowers. Its dense growth helps shade the soil, supporting better drainage and reducing visible weeds, so you spend more time enjoying your small garden and less time maintaining it.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Low-maintenance cottage-style front border |
The broad, spreading habit and self-cleaning blooms give a relaxed, cottage look without constant deadheading. Once established, it needs only light pruning and basic care, suiting beginners and busy homeowners who want charm, not chores for the front-garden owner. |
| Groundcover on a sunny slope |
Its vigorous, horizontal growth knits together into a dense mat, helping to cover bare soil on gentle slopes. With good heat and drought tolerance, it copes well once rooted, needing only sensible watering during long dry spells for the practical gardener. |
| Edging along driveways and paths |
The compact 45–75 cm height and 120–200 cm spread create a soft, flowered edge that stays within bounds. Bright red clusters draw the eye from the street, yet require just an annual tidy, ideal for the busy urban household. |
| Low, informal flowering hedge |
Planted at 90 cm centres, plants join into a low, airy hedge that flowers repeatedly through the short Irish summer. Own-root growth ensures gaps can refill over time, so the hedge stays attractive for the long-term planner. |
| Mass planting in small beds |
With strong remontant flowering and good self-cleaning, mass plantings stay colourful without daily attention. Recommended spacing and planting density make design planning straightforward for the design-conscious beginner. |
| Family garden play-area surround |
The moderate height and spreading habit frame lawns and play spaces without towering over them. Own-root resilience means it can recover more easily from the odd knock or pruning mishap, reassuring the young-family gardener. |
| Large container on terrace or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre or larger pot with free-draining compost, it forms a low dome of foliage and flowers that softens hard surfaces. Regular watering and feeding are simple tasks, manageable for the time-poor city dweller. |
| Urban bed with heavy, wet clay soil |
Its dense foliage and spreading roots suit improved clay beds where surface mulch and careful planting promote better drainage in wetter spells, helping it cope with our cool, damp Irish conditions for the climate-aware gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Ribbon Border – Drift RED RIBBONS along a path with foxgloves and hardy geraniums for a low, flowing red ribbon effect – ideal for relaxed cottage-garden lovers.
- Terrace Softener – Use in a large 40–50 litre pot by the front door, underplanting a small standard tree for a welcoming, low-maintenance splash – perfect for city-terrace owners.
- Driveway Quilt – Plant in staggered rows beside a gravel drive, letting plants knit into a continuous carpet that frames parked cars – suited to practical family homes.
- Play-Lawn Edge – Create a soft, flowered edge between lawn and fencing, with low grasses and daisies, keeping height child-friendly and easy-care – great for young families.
- Red-On-Green Bank – Combine on a sunny slope with ornamental grasses and spring bulbs, using RED RIBBONS as the long-season red layer – appealing to low-effort colour seekers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Groundcover shrub rose; registered as KORtemma, marketed as Red Ribbons Groundcover KORtemma. ARS exhibition name Red Ribbons. Belongs to the ground cover group, commercial group Clúdach talún. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Wilhelm Kordes III. Parentage ‘Weisse Max Graf’ × ‘Walzertraum’. Introduced and registered in 1990 in Germany, with initial wider distribution through Jackson & Perkins Co. in the USA. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly regarded groundcover rose with notable early honours: Baden‑Baden Gold Medal (1991) and RNRS Trial Ground Certificate in Great Britain (1991), reflecting garden performance and ornamental value. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Low, spreading habit 45–75 cm high and 120–200 cm wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage. Moderately thorny stems. Good ground-covering capability when spaced correctly for area and design. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, flat flowers in clusters, 1–4 cm across with 13–25 petals. Strongly remontant, producing abundant second and subsequent flushes. Good self-cleaning, with most spent blooms dropping cleanly. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Bright mid-red with slight scarlet tinge, ARS MR, RHS 45A–45B. Buds glossy scarlet-red; colour deepens slightly then can pale a little in strong sun. Yellow stamens add contrast where visible. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
No noticeable scent; selected primarily for colour effect and groundcover performance rather than fragrance. Semi-double form offers only limited value for pollinators compared with single-flowered roses. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally sparse. Where produced, hips are small, 6–10 mm across, globose and red (RHS 46A). Ornamental effect is modest and usually secondary to the long flowering period. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to about −32 to −29 °C (USDA 4b, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 5). Good black spot resistance; medium tolerance to powdery mildew and rust. Good heat and moderate drought tolerance once established. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in full sun with well-prepared soil and good drainage. Space 90–165 cm depending on use; 0.9–1.0 plants/m² for mass planting. Medium maintenance, with occasional plant protection and annual pruning. |
RED RIBBONS offers vivid groundcover colour, a spreading, self-cleaning habit and long-lived own-root reliability; an excellent, undemanding choice if you want a bright, easy-care family-garden rose.
