Landora

Where to plant. Classic HT beds, mono-yellow borders, formal groups; ideal as a specimen or for cutting (long stems, stable colour); a duo with Friesia as 'two yellow generations' (HT 1970 + FL 1973).

Climate. Down to −23 °C — overwinters well across the whole of Ukraine; the south without winter protection, the centre and north with moderate protection.

Care. Classic HT — prune in spring to 3–5 buds; removing spent blooms encourages new flushes; seasonal prevention of black spot.

Name. 'Landora' — an invented, melodious female name with no specific model (Tantau often gave varieties such names). Synonym 'Sunblest' (UK/USA) — literally 'blessed by the sun', a hint at the stable yellow colour that does not fade.

Breeding. Bred by Mathias Tantau Jr. at Rosen Tantau (Uetersen, Germany), 1970, registered 1971. Correct code TANdro (NOT TANdora — often mistaken; the short code TANdro per the HMF/ICRA register). Parentage: unknown seedling of Tantau × King's Ransom (Morey 1961). A common error: parentage given as 'Colour Wonder' — that is a different Tantau rose, not Landora.

Significance. A classic pure-yellow HT of the 1970s, a benchmark for stable yellow pigment. 3 gold medals: Gold Medal Japan (Tokyo) 1971, Gold Star of the South Pacific (New Zealand) 1973, Gold Medal Gifu (Japan). The RNRS Gold Medal 1972 is often cited but is not documented. Over 50 years in commercial circulation — rare for HTs; most HTs of the 1970s have long since disappeared. It belongs to the family of pure-yellow HTs with benchmark colour stability — alongside King's Ransom (its parent) and the Mister Lincoln-era. Do not confuse with Landlust (KORtemma, Kordes 2008, another yellow Floribunda).