Grande Amore

Where to plant. A classic red Hybrid Tea for a sunny bed and for cutting. An upright, compact bush of 80–90 cm that needs no support. Striking on its own, in groups of red varieties (with Olympiad, Ingrid Bergman), or paired with blue-purple perennials.

Climate. USDA 6b–9b (~ −20…−23 °C). In Ukraine — in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe with light cover, further north with thorough cover.

Care. Sources differ on health — ADR trials showed high resistance, but Kordes' official garden description points to susceptibility to black spot, mildew and rust. We advise preventive treatments, especially in a wet season.

Name. 'grande amore' — Italian for 'great love'. Synonyms in different countries: Eleganza Grande Amore, My Valentine, and in South Africa the variety is known as Walter Sisulu.

Breeding. Bred by Tim Hermann Kordes at W. Kordes' Söhne (Germany), introduced in 2004. Code KORcoluma, patent PP17047. Belongs to the Eleganza series. Parents: Christopher Columbus × seedling. Not to be confused with the older Grande Amore (KORliegra, 1968) — a different, much earlier variety with the same name. Awards: ADR 2005, Gold Medal Rose Hills 2007, Portland Best HT 2010, Gold Medal The Hague 2009, Golden Rose of Lyon 2005. One of the well-awarded red Hybrid Teas from Kordes in the mid-2000s.