W. Kordes' Söhne
# W. Kordes' Söhne

W. Kordes' Söhne (en. W. Kordes' Sons) is a German rose breeding company in Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The company is one of the world's leading rose breeders and producers for cut roses and garden roses, annually selling worldwide more than two million rose plants at retail and wholesale. Each year, more than 50,000 new crosses of garden roses and cut roses are tested, leading to four to six marketable varieties after a trial period of eight to ten years.

## History

Wilhelm Kordes I (born 1865 in Holstein, Germany, died 1935 in Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop) was a German horticulturist. In 1887 he created a rose garden in Elmshorn, specializing in growing garden roses. In 1918 he moved the firm to Klein Offenseth-Sparrieshoop in Schleswig-Holstein.

His sons, the breeder Wilhelm Kordes II (born 30 March 1891 in Elmshorn, died 11 November 1976) and Hermann Kordes (1893-1963) changed the name of the expanding company to "Wilhelm Kordes' Söhne". Wilhelm Kordes II's varieties made them one of the biggest rose firms of the twentieth century. His general aim was to breed hardy and healthy varieties for the German climate. After 1920 he concentrated entirely on rose-growing, leaving management to his brother Hermann. By the mid-1930s, the company had grown to considerable size.

    [Wilhelm's] experiments focused at first upon the native European species, including Rosa canina, R. rubiginosa, and R. spinosissima: the results include such important shrub roses as 'Harry Maasz' (1939), 'Louis Rödiger' (1935), 'Raubritter' (1936), 'Karl Föster' (1930), and the early-flowering "Frühling" series. He also experimented with the Hybrid Musks such as 'Elmshorn' (1950), 'Erfurt' (1931), and 'Eva' (1933). [His son Reimer later bred 'Iceberg', also a Hybrid Musk.] Hybrid Teas were not neglected: 'Crimson Glory' (1935) had an unusually long reign as the world's favourite crimson rose.

During the Second World War Wilhelm Kordes II crossed the East Asian Rosa wichurana with the Japanese Rosa rugosa eventually to obtain a new species, Rosa kordesii, able to withstand the harsh winters of north Germany. From it he later bred such famous post-war varieties as 'Parkdirektor Riggers,' 'Leverkusen,' Hamburger Phönix' and 'Heidelberg.' "The dark, glossy foliage of many modern roses can be traced back to 'Kordesii'."

Wilhelm Kordes II was also very involved in implementing ADR testing (general testing of new German roses) in 1950, established by the rose breeders in the Federation of German Nurseries.

    Above all, it is as a rose breeder than Wilhelm Kordes [II] will be remembered. He and his son Reimer bred some of the world's best-known roses, including 'Crimson Glory' and 'Schneewittchen' ('Iceberg'). Kordes knew that it was through introducing new genes that all the great advances in plant breeding had been achieved. His experiments focused at first upon the native European species and Rosa rugosa; his aim was to develop new bush roses for small gardens.

From 1955, his son Reimer Kordes (February 19, 1922 – 3 February 1997) ran the company until Reimer's son Wilhelm Kordes III (1953-2016) took over in 1977.

    Reimer moved on from shrub roses to concentrate on brilliantly coloured Hybrid Teas and Floribundas for private and public gardens. Nevertheless, he introduced roses of every type: large-flowered climbers such as 'Alchymist' (1956) and 'Antike 89' (1988); ground cover roses such as 'Immensee' and 'Sommerwind'; Hybrid Teas including 'Duftzauber 84' (1984) and 'Kupferkönigin' (1996); shrubs such as 'Chiarivari' (1970), 'Lucinde' (1988), and 'Rosenstadt Zweibrücken' (1989); Floribundas such as 'Golden Holstein' (1988) and 'Crimson Bouquet' (1999); and cut-flower roses such as 'Champagner' (1985).

One of the world's best known rose cultivars, 'Iceberg' (syn. 'Schneewittchen') was introduced by Reimer Kordes in 1958. The variety was selected as the "World Favourite Rose" of 1983. Other famous cultivars include 'Sunsprite', and 'Aprikola'.

## Sortable list of Kordes rose varieties

| Name | Form | Colour | Date | ADR-recognised |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Adolf Horstmann | hybrid tea | yellow and pink | 1971 | |
| Agnes Bernauer | hybrid tea | light pink | 1989 | |
| Alchymist | bush | apricot | 1956 | |
| Aloha | climber | apricot and pink | 2002 | |
| Amadeus | hybrid tea | dark red | 2003 | |
| Angela | bush | carmine pink | 1984 | |
| Ankori (Angelique) | hybrid tea | orange blend | 1980 | |
| Antike 89 | floribunda climber | white blend, red edges | 1988 | |
| Aprikola | floribunda | yellow-orange to apricot | 2001 | 2001 |
| Asso di Cuori | hybrid tea | dark red | 1981 | |
| Athena | hybrid tea | white blend | 1984 | |
| August Kordes (Lafayette) | floribunda | deep pink | 1928 | |
| Australian Gold (Mona Lisa) | floribunda | apricot blend | 1980 | |
| Ave Maria | hybrid tea | strong salmon-orange | 1981 | |
| Bad Birnbach | floribunda, shrub | carmine-pink | 2000 | 2000 |
| Bad Füssing | floribunda | red | 1980 | |
| Bad Neuenahr | bush | mid-red | 1958 | |
| Bad Wörishofen (Pink Emely) | floribunda, shrub | carmine pink | 2005 | 2003 |
| Ballet | hybrid tea | deep pink | 1958 | |
| Belami | hybrid tea | orange-pink | 1985 | |
| Bella Rosa | floribunda | strong pink | 1982 | |
| Bengali | floribunda | orange-red | 1966 | |
| Berlin | bush | red | 1949 | |
| Berolina | hybrid tea | citron yellow | 1986 | |
| Beverly | hybrid tea | light pink | 1999 | |
| Black Boy | bush | dark red | 1958 | |
| Blue Bayou | floribunda | mauve | 1993 | |
| Blue Girl (Kölner Karneval) | hybrid tea | mauve | 1964 | |
| Blue River | hybrid tea | mauve | 1984 | |
| Blühwunder | floribunda | bright pink to salmon pink | 1995 | 1994 |
| Bonanza | bush | golden-yellow, copper edges | 1983 | 1984 |
| Bremer Stadtmusikanten | floribunda | pink blend | 2000 | |
| Bride's Dream (Märchenkönigin) | hybrid tea | light pink | 1985 | |
| Burghausen | bush | bright crimson | 1991 | 1989 |
| Caramella | shrub | yellow | 2001 | |
| Cervia | floribunda | apricot and pink | 2003 | |
| Charmant | dwarf | strong pink | 1999 | 2004 |
| Cherry Girl | floribunda | red | 2007 | |
| Chiarivari | shrub | yellow blend | 1971 | |
| Christel von der Post | hybrid tea | deep yellow | 1990 | |
| Colour Wonder | hybrid tea | orange-red, cream reverse | 1964 | |
| Crimson Bouquet | grandiflora | dark red | 1966 | |
| Crimson Glory | hybrid tea | dark red | 1935 | |
| Cubana | shrub | apricot blend | 2001 | |
| Diamant | floribunda, Shrub | white | 2001 | 2002 |
| Die Welt | hybrid tea | orange-red | 1976 | |
| Doktor Waldheim | hybrid tea | salmon pink | 1973 | |
| Dolomiti | floribunda | pink, cream centre | 2011 | |
| Dornröschenschloss Sababurg | shrub | pink | 1993 | |
| Dortmund | climber | carmine-tinted crimson, white centre | 1955 | 1954 |
| Duftzauber | hybrid tea | dark red | 1984 | |
| Dusterlohe | climber | deep pink | 1931 | |
| Eifelzauber | shrub | light pink | 2008 | |
| Eliza | hybrid tea | pink to silver-pink | 2004 | 2005 |
| Elmshorn | bush | cherry red | 1951 | |
| Elveshörn | bush | bright red | 1985 | |
| Escimo | miniature | bright white | 2006 | 2006 |
| Esmeralda | hybrid tea | white and pink | 1980 | |
| Esprit | floribunda | dark red | 1985 | |
| Eva | bush | cherry | 1933 | |
| Erfurt | bush | pink, white on a golden base | 1939 | |
| Eureka | floribunda | apricot blend | 2002 | |
| Eutin | bush | cherry | 1940 | |
| Fairest Cape | hybrid tea | apricot, orange shading | 1994 | |
| Fantasia Mondiale | hybrid tea | apricot, salmon-pink edges | 2006 | |
| Fee des Neiges (Iceberg, Schneewittchen) | floribunda | white | 1958 | |
| Felicitas | bush | dark red | 1998 | 1996 |
| Flammentanz | small shrub | crimson | 1955 | 1952 |
| Flirt | floribunda shrub | deep pink | 2000 | |
| Florentina | hybrid tea | crimson | 1973 | 1974 |
| Fortuna | floribunda, shrub | dark red | 2002 | 2002 |
| Fritz Nobis | bush | bright pink | 1940 | |
| Frühlingsanfang | bush | bright yellow | 1950 | |
| Frühlingsgold | bush | muted yellow | 1937 | |
| Frühlingsmorgen | bush | pink-yellow | 1931 | |
| Fuggerstadt Augsburg | floribunda | orange-red | 1985 | |
| Funkuhr | hybrid tea | yellow, red edges | 1984 | |
| Gabriele Gebauer (Sunstar) | floribunda | light yellow | 2007 | |
| Garden of Roses | patio shrub | cream, apricot centre | 2006 | |
| Gärtnerfreude | shrub, floribunda | bright red | 2001 | 2001 |
| Gartenzauber | floribunda | red | 1984 | |
| Gebrüder Grimm | floribunda | orange-red uppers, peach backs | 2002 | 2002 |
| Gelber Engel | floribunda | bright yellow | 2002 | 2004 |
| Georgette | floribunda | pink | 1995 | |
| Goldbusch | bush | copper | 1954 | |
| Golden Gate | climber | bright yellow | 2005 | 2006 |
| Golden Medaillon | hybrid tea | deep yellow | 1991 | |
| Goldener Holstein | floribunda | deep yellow | 1988 | |
| Goldmarie | floribunda | deep yellow | 1982 | |
| Goldrausch | floribunda | yellow | 1961 | |
| Grande Amore | hybrid tea | intense dark red | 2004 | 2005 |
| Gruss an Bayern | floribunda | red | 1971 | |
| Hamburg | bush | dark red | 1935 | |
| Hamburger Deern | hybrid tea | orange-pink | 1997 | |
| Hamburger Phönix | Kordesii climber | red | 1954 | |
| Hannah Gordon (Tabris) | floribunda | white, pink edges | 1983 | |
| Hansa Park | shrub | mauve | 1994 | |
| Harlekin | climber | cream, red edges | 1986 | |
| Harmonie | hybrid tea | orange-pink | 1981 | |
| Heidelberg | hybrid tea | carmine-red | 1959 | |
| Harry Maasz | hybrid macrantha | crimson-violet, white centre | 1939 | |
| Heckenfeuer | floribunda | red | 1983 | |
| Heidelinde | floribunda | mauve | 1991 | |
| Heinzelmännchen | floribunda | bright crimson | 1983 | |
| Helmut Schmidt | hybrid tea | yellow | 1979 | |
| Herkules | shrub | white, pink undertones | 2007 | |
| Holstein | floribunda | carmine-red | 1938 | |
| Ilse Krohn | bush | bright cream and white | 1957 | |
| Ilse Krohn superior | bush | bright cream and white | 1964 | |
| Innocencia | shrub, floribunda | bright white | 2003 | 2004 |
| Immensee | shrub | light pink | 1982 | |
| Jasmina | climber | violet and pink | 1997 | |
| Juanita | shrub | pink, carmine pink | 2007 | 2006 |
| Karl Förster | bush | white | 1931 | |
| Karl Herbst | hybrid tea | carmine red | 1950 | |
| Karl Ploberger Rose | shrub | yellow, lighter outer petals | 2007 | |
| Kleopatra | hybrid tea | red and yellow | 1994 | |
| Knirps | shrub, ground cover | carmine pink | 1997 | 2004 |
| KO 95/1727-03 | shrub | yellow blend | 2003 | |
| KO 98 1552-01 | floribunda | yellow | 1998 | |
| KORblixmu | floribunda | white | 2007 | |
| Kordes Brilliant | shrub | orange blend | 1983 | |
| Korelasting (Lindenhof) | bush | bright pink, yellow centre | 1999 | |
| Korona | floribunda | orange-red | 1955 | |
| Kupferkönigin | hybrid tea | deep yellow | 1996 | |
| Lady Rose | hybrid tea | orange-pink | 1979 | |
| Laguna | hybrid tea | deep pink | 1995 | |
| Larissa | shrub | light pink | 2007 | |
| Las Vegas | hybrid tea | orange, yellow reverse | 1981 | |
| Leverkusen | climber | bright yellow | 1954 | |
| Lichtkönigin Lucia | bush | strong lemon-yellow | 1966 | 1968 |
| Liebeszauber | hybrid tea | dark red | 1991 | |
| Lili Marlene | floribunda | dark red | 1959 | |
| Lions-Rose | floribunda | cream-white | 2002 | 2002 |
| Lolita | hybrid tea | apricot blend | 1972 | |
| Loving Memory | hybrid tea | red | 1981 | |
| Louis Rödiger | climber | pale orange to orange | 1935 | |
| Lucinde | shrub | deep yellow | 1988 | |
| Lupo | miniature | mauve blend | 2006 | |
| Lydia | shrub | orange blend | 1973 | |
| Mabella (New Day) | hybrid tea | yellow | 1972 | |
| Magenta | bush | mauve | 1954 | |
| Maigold | bush | orange | 1952 | |
| Mainaufeuer (Red Ribbons) | bush | red | 1990 | |
| Mandarin | miniature | apricot blend | 1987 | |
| Mandy | hybrid tea | dark red | 1987 | |
| Manita | climber | pink, yellow centre | 1998 | 1998 |
| Mariandel (Christian IV) | floribunda | crimson | 1982 | |
| Marondo | shrub | pink | 1991 | |
| Maxi Vita | floribunda, shrub | dark pink, yellow-orange base | 2001 | 2001 |
| Medeo | shrub | white | 2001 | |
| Mein schöner Garten | shrub | pink, salmon-pink | 1986 | |
| Memoire | hybrid tea | white | 1992 | |
| Meteor | floribunda | scarlet | 1959 | 1960 |
| Mireille Mathieu | floribunda | orange-red | 1988 | |
| Mondiale | hybrid tea | old rose pink | 1993 | |
| Moonlight | florist's rose | light yellow | 2004 | |
| Moon River | shrub | white | 1996 | |
| NDR1 Radio Niedersachsen | floribunda | deep pink | 1996 | |
| Neon | floribunda, shrub | carmine pink | 2001 | 2001 |
| Neue Revue | hybrid tea | red blend | 1969 | |
| Neues Europa | floribunda | scarlet | 1965 | |
| New Day | hybrid tea | butter yellow | 1972 | |
| Nicole | floribunda | white, red edges | 1985 | |
| Novalis | floribunda | lavender | 2010 | |
| Nymphenburg | bush | bright pink | 1954 | |
| Out of Rosenheim | floribunda | red | 2010 | |
| Palmengarten Frankfurt | shrub | carmine pink | 1988 | 1992 |
| Parkdirektor Riggers | Kordesii climber | hard red | 1957 | |
| Parole | hybrid tea | deep pink | 2002 | |
| Peer Gynt | hybrid tea | yellow, red edges | 1968 | |
| Perfect Moment | hybrid tea | red, yellow reverse | 1989 | |
| Pepita | dwarf | bright carmine pink | 2004 | 2004 |
| Peter Frankenfeld | hybrid tea | deep pink | 1966 | |
| Petticoat | floribunda | white, apricot centre | 2004 | 2004 |
| Pink Bassino | shrub | pink | 1995 | 1993 |
| Pink Robusta | shrub | pink | 1987 | |
| Planten un Blomen | floribunda | red, pink reverse | 1999 | |
| Pomponella | floribunda | deep pink | 2005 | 2006 |
| Postillion | shrub | copper-yellow | 1998 | |
| Prominent | floribunda | orange-red | 1971 | 1971 |
| Queen Mother | floribunda | light pink | 1971 | 1971 |
| Queen of Hearts | hybrid tea | orange-pink | 2008 | |
| Ramira | climber | pink | 1988 | |
| Raubritter | rambler | bright pink | 1936 | |
| Raymond Chenault | shrub | red | 1960 | |
| Rebell | hybrid tea | red | 1996 | |
| Ritter von Barmstede | shrub | pink | 1959 | |
| Rosanna | climber | salmon pink | 2002 | |
| Rosarium Uetersen | Climber | pink | 1977 | |
| Roselina | shrub | deep pink | 1992 | |
| Rosenfee | floribunda | light pink | 2006 | |
| Rosenprofessor Sieber | floribunda | pink | 1997 | 1996 |
| Rosenresli | Shrub, bush | salmon-pink | 1986 | 1984 |
| Rosenstadt Zweibrücken | shrub | pink blend | 1989 | |
| Rosenwunder | hybrid rubiginosa | deep pink | 1934 | |
| Rosmarin | miniature | deep pink | 1989 | |
| Rote Mozart | shrub | orange-red | 1989 | |
| Roter Korsar | bush, shrub | dark velvet red | 2004 | |
| Rotilla | floribunda | crimson | 2000 | |
| Roxy | miniature | violet, red | 2007 | |
| Rugelda | bush | lemon yellow | 1989 | |
| Saarbrücken | shrub | scarlet | 1959 | |
| Salita | climber | orange-red | 1987 | |
| Samba | floribunda | red and yellow | 1964 | |
| Scharlachglut | gallica | scarlet | 1952 | |
| Schwarze Madonna | Kordesii hybrid tea | dark red | 1992 | |
| Schwarzer Samt | Kordesii climber | dark red | 1969 | |
| Sebastian Kneipp | hybrijd tea | white | 1997 | |
| Shocking Blue | floribunda | mauve blend | 1985 | |
| Smart Roadrunner | hybrid rugosa | deep pink | 2002 | |
| Solero | hybrid tea | deep yellow | 2005 | |
| Sommerabend | shrub, ground cover | bright red | 1995 | 1996 |
| Sommermorgen | shrub | light pink | 1983 | |
| Sommerwind | ground cover, floribunda | pure pink | 1985 | 1987 |
| Sonnenröschen | dwarf, ground cover | white, yellow eye | 2005 | 2003 |
| Sparrieshoop | bush | pink | 1953 | |
| Späths Jubiläum | floribunda | orange | 1953 | |
| Speelwark | hybrid tea | yellow and pink | 1999 | |
| St. Pauli | | pink-yellow | 1958 | |
| Sterntaler | hybrid tea | yellow | 1995 | |
| Sunny Rose | shrub, ground cover | bright yellow, light yellow | 2001 | 2004 |
| Sunsprite (Friesia) | floribunda | deep yellow | 1973 | |
| Sylt | Kordesii hybrid | dark red | 1980 | |
| Sylvia | hybrid tea | pink | 1978 | 1977 |
| Sympathie | Kordesii climber | deep scarlet | 1964 | 1966 |
| Tatjana | hybrid tea | dark red | 1970 | |
| Tradition | climber | red | 1995 | |
| Träumerei | bush | lobster and salmon orange | 1974 | |
| UNICEF-Rose | floribunda, shrub | bright pink | 2007 | 2005 |
| Uetersens Rosenkönigin | bush | orange to mid-red | 2009 | |
| Uetersens Rosenprinzessin | bush | light pink | 2009 | |
| Valencia | hybrid tea | amber-yellow | 1989 | |
| Vogelpark Walsrode | bush | light pink | 1988 | 1989 |
| Walter Schultheis | | | | |
| Wedding Bells | hybrid tea | pink | 2010 | |
| Weisse Immensee | shrub | white | 1982 | |
| Weisse Wolke | climber | white | 1998 | |
| Westerland | bush | orange to apricot | 1969 | 1974 |
| Wilhelm | climber | dark red | 1934 | |
| Wilhelm Hansmann | Kordesii shrub | dark red | 1955 | |
| Winter Sun | hybrid tea | yellow | 2010 | |
| Yankee Doodle | hybrid tea | yellow blend | 1965 | |
| Zaide | shrub | pink | 2006 | |
| Zitronenjette | hybrid tea | yellow | 1964 | |
| Zwergenfee | miniature | red orange | 1978 | |
| Zwergkönigin | miniature | pink | 1979 | |
