KARDINAL – red hybrid tea rose - Krause
With its velvety coral-red blooms and elegant hybrid tea form, KARDINAL brings a touch of classic romance to Irish gardens while staying reassuringly manageable for everyday care. This pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre own‑root plant settles in steadily, building roots in year one, stronger shoots in year two and full ornamental presence by year three, so You can simply plant and watch it mature. The bushy, upright habit creates a tidy structure for front gardens and smaller beds, while the dense, slightly glossy foliage frames each flower with fresh light‑green contrast. Well suited to our damp, breeze‑cooled climate where good drainage helps heavy clay cope with frequent rain, it forms a long‑lived, reliable framework for your planting. Its plentiful second flush of flowers extends the season and supplies classic, straight‑stemmed blooms ideal for cutting, giving You a dependable garden feature that fits busy lives and straightforward maintenance.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front garden focal point near the entrance |
The upright, bushy growth and medium height create a clear, formal accent that reads well from the street without overpowering a small front garden, ideal if You want classic roses that simply look “right” without specialist pruning for the beginner |
| Small rose group of 3–5 plants in a bed |
Planted in a tight group, KARDINAL quickly forms a dense, coherent block of colour; its repeat flowering habit ensures a strong second flush so the bed does not look patchy in mid‑summer, suiting those who prefer steady impact over complex border plans for the homeowner |
| Cutting corner or narrow border for vase flowers |
The solitary, well‑formed blooms on straight stems are easy to cut and arrange, allowing You to pick classic red roses for the house without dismantling the garden display, perfect for anyone who enjoys home‑grown bunches with minimal fuss for the urbanite |
| Mixed cottage‑style border with perennials |
Its strong colour and tidy structure sit beautifully among looser cottage plants such as lupins or agastache, giving a stable backbone while other flowers come and go; the own‑root habit means it regrows reliably and supports long‑term border plans for the planner |
| Medium container on a sheltered patio or balcony |
In a 40–50 litre container with good drainage, KARDINAL forms a compact, upright bush whose repeat blooms bring a sense of luxury to smaller outdoor spaces, suiting busy people who want one dependable feature plant rather than many demanding pots for the balcony‑owner |
| Feature rose in heavy Irish clay soils |
Once established, the robust bush copes well where heavy ground is improved for drainage, matching typical Irish conditions of regular rain and cool breezes, and offering a practical, good‑looking solution for family plots that cannot be gardened every weekend for the pragmatist |
| Long‑term structure in family play gardens |
The dense, bushy habit and moderate height make it easy to place against fences or behind lower planting, where it can quietly mature over years; as an own‑root rose it rebuilds from the base if cut back hard, supporting durable plantings around active spaces for the family |
| Gradually developing rose bed for new gardeners |
The 2‑litre own‑root plant arrives already well rooted, then focuses on underground growth in the first year, builds more top growth in the second and reaches full show in the third, giving beginners a calm, predictable learning curve for the novice |
Decorating ideas
- Classic Entrance Trio – Plant three KARDINAL roses by your front path with underplanting of white alyssum to soften the edges, creating a welcoming, formal look – ideal for owners who like neat, traditional front gardens.
- Cottage Mix Border – Combine KARDINAL with pink lupins and blue agastache for a layered cottage feel, using the rose as the upright anchor among softer perennials – perfect for those who enjoy relaxed, romantic beds without fussy upkeep.
- Patio Statement Pot – Grow a single KARDINAL in a 40–50 litre terracotta container, adding trailing ivy or thyme around the base to frame the coral‑red blooms – suited to balcony and terrace gardeners wanting maximum effect from one pot.
- Red‑and‑White Display – Pair KARDINAL with white hydrangeas or shasta daisies in a mixed bed so the red blooms stand out crisply against cool white – great for homeowners after a simple, high‑impact colour scheme.
- Family-Friendly Hedge Line – Plant in a loose row at 40–50 cm spacing along a low fence, letting the bushes knit into a flowering line that defines play areas without feeling rigid – ideal for busy families wanting structure with minimal extra work.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose marketed as KARDINAL – red hybrid tea rose - Krause; registered cultivar name Kardinal, hybrid tea group; exhibition‑grade cut‑flower type with classic upright, solitary blooms. |
| Origin and breeding |
Hybrid tea derived from a ‘Château de Clos‑Vougeot’ seedling, bred by Max Krause in Germany around 1933, later introduced to the market by Hazlewood Bros. Pty. Ltd. in Australia in 1936. |
| Growth and structure |
Bushy, upright shrub reaching about 75–105 cm high and 60–85 cm wide, densely thorned shoots and tight framework; dense, slightly glossy light‑green foliage providing a good backdrop in formal beds or smaller borders. |
| Flower morphology |
Fully double, cupped flowers with a distinct mid‑centred form, bearing 26–39 petals; medium‑sized blooms around 4–7 cm across, generally produced singly on stems, remontant with a generous second flowering period. |
| Colour and phenology |
Deep coral‑red overall effect with a slightly cool undertone; buds fiery red‑coral, opening to warm coral with orange glow, later softening toward brick‑terracotta and rosy‑powdery edges as the blooms age on the plant. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Very weak, discreet scent with a neutral, clean character rather than a strong perfume; chosen primarily for flower form and colour impact rather than fragrance, making it suitable where scent sensitivity is a concern. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Limited rose hip production due to the fully double flowers; when present, small spherical red hips approximately 10–14 mm in diameter, offering modest late‑season interest without prolific self‑seeding. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −15 to −12 °C (RHS H6, Swedish zone 2, USDA 7b); moderate resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust, requiring basic monitoring and occasional treatment in humid seasons to stay healthy. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Spacing 50 cm for mass planting, 40 cm for hedging, about 80 cm as a specimen; plant 4.2–4.8 plants/m² in formal layouts; maintenance medium, with routine feeding, deadheading and seasonal pest and disease control recommended. |
KARDINAL offers classic red hybrid tea blooms, a tidy bushy habit and dependable repeat flowering on a long‑lived own‑root framework, making it an easy, confident choice for your garden when You feel ready to plant.
