RAYMOND CHENAULT – red climber rose – Kordes
If You would like a reliable climbing rose that simply gets on with the job in Irish gardens, RAYMOND CHENAULT is a proven classic. This Hybrid Kordesii climber from Kordes builds a long-lived, well-proportioned framework of dark green, glossy foliage and deep, velvety red blooms, coping well with typical Irish humidity and rainfall when planted in reasonably drained soil. The semi-double, large, flat flowers appear in generous clusters, then repeat with a strong second flush, giving colour on fences, pergolas and house walls over a long season. Growth is vigorous yet manageable, so with basic tying-in You can guide its height and spread to suit even a modest family garden. As an own-root plant it settles gradually, forming a stable, regenerating framework that supports a long lifespan with less complicated pruning. Plant once, then let the strong root system focus on year-one establishment, year-two shoot development and year-three full impact, giving You dependable structure and flowers for many years.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front-garden house wall or garage wall |
Vigorous yet not unmanageable, RAYMOND CHENAULT clothes a bare wall with glossy dark foliage and rich red clusters, creating instant kerb appeal in family front gardens with only simple tying and seasonal trimming – ideal for the busy homeowner |
| Pergola beside patio or seating area |
The tall, arching canes are perfect for training over a pergola, where the medium, spicy-berry scent and repeat-flowering red clusters bring atmosphere through summer without needing fussy pruning, suiting the relaxed garden entertainer |
| Fence or boundary screening in small to medium gardens |
This climbing rose builds a dense, leafy screen with moderate thorniness, giving privacy and a strong red accent on garden boundaries, while its balanced growth habit keeps maintenance to straightforward tying-in and an annual tidy, reassuring the cautious beginner |
| Rural cottage-style mixed border backdrop |
The classic clear red flowers and dark foliage sit beautifully behind perennials like lamb’s ear or coneflower, supporting a traditional cottage look; its long-term framework means You plant once and enjoy reliable structure for years, ideal for the romantic cottage-gardener |
| Urban side-return or narrow passageway in partial shade |
Suitable for partial shade, it will still produce strong clusters where sun is limited to a few hours, making it valuable in tight urban spaces, and its robust constitution handles cool, damp air common in side alleys, encouraging the space-poor city-gardener |
| Feature climber on an entrance arch or gate |
Its generous second flush ensures the entrance stays welcoming well beyond early summer, while the good colour retention keeps the red shade clean and bright, helping a small group of plants deliver a big visual statement for the style-conscious homeowner |
| Large container on coastal or exposed patios |
In a 40–50 litre container with good drainage, the tough Hybrid Kordesii background and H7 hardiness let it cope with moisture, wind and the soft, cool conditions of Atlantic-influenced patios, reassuring the weather-worried coastal-gardener |
| Long-term park-style planting or shared driveway border |
With its award-winning garden performance and own-root durability, this rose forms a lasting framework that responds well to simple, periodic renewal pruning, giving stable ornamental value where several households share the view and upkeep, suiting the cooperative neighbour |
Decorating ideas
- COTTAGE GATEWAY – Train RAYMOND CHENAULT up a timber arch, underplanting with lamb’s ear and white coneflowers for a soft, rural entrance – for lovers of relaxed cottage style.
- SMART FRONT FACADE – Guide the climber along horizontal wires on a rendered front wall, pairing with neatly clipped lavender at the base – for homeowners who like a tidy, low-fuss entrance.
- PATIO PERGOLA ROOM – Cover a small pergola beside your terrace, adding pots of rosemary and hydrangea nearby to echo the rich red flowers – for families who dine outdoors in summer.
- URBAN SCREEN – Use along a side fence in a small city garden, mixing with upright grasses and white-flowering perennials to break up hard boundaries – for urban gardeners seeking privacy without heaviness.
- DRIVEWAY FOCUS – Plant at intervals along a shared driveway fence, letting the long-lived framework and repeat blooms unify the approach – for neighbours planning a simple, shared feature.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose from the pharmaROSA ORIGINAL range, trade name RAYMOND CHENAULT, exhibition name Raymond Chenault; unregistered variety within the Climber, Hybrid Kordesii group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Reimer Kordes, W. Kordes’ Söhne, Germany, from Rosa kordesii × ‘Montezuma’; breeding year 1958, introduced 1960 as a robust garden and park climber. |
| Awards and recognitions |
Royal National Rose Society Trial Ground Certificate (United Kingdom, 1961) and “Bonnes Roses de Jardins et des Parcs” certificate at The Hague in 1965 for garden performance. |
| Growth and structure |
Vigorous, creeping to climbing habit, 260–440 cm high with 180–320 cm spread; dense, dark green glossy foliage, moderately thorny canes forming a strong long-term framework when trained. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, flat, large blooms (approx. 7–10 cm) in sizeable clusters; 13–25 petals; remontant with a generous second flush, providing repeated ornament across the season. |
| Colour and phenology |
Deep, rich, clear red that does not turn bluish; colour holds well even in strong sunlight, with slightly lighter petal edges and uniform darkening as blooms age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength fragrance combining spicy and berry-like notes; noticeable around seating areas without being overpowering, adding character to pergolas, arches and entrances. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Hip set generally sparse; where formed, ellipsoidal, glossy red hips 12–18 mm in diameter may appear, adding a discrete late-season accent. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish zone 3, USDA 6b); disease resistance moderate overall, with good black spot resistance and moderate tolerance to powdery mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Ideal for walls, fences and pergolas; plant 180–320 cm apart depending on use; suitable for partial shade; best in well-drained soil with regular moisture and basic annual pruning and tying-in. |
RAYMOND CHENAULT offers reliable red flowering, a manageable long-lived climbing framework and the regenerative security of an own-root plant, making it a practical choice if You would like a classic climber that quietly performs.
