Floribunda; Kordes fairy-tale series (Märchenrose); nostalgicW. Kordes' Söhne, 2002Red

Rotkäppchen

Dark red nostalgic rosettes that do NOT fade or “turn blue”; from the Kordes fairy-tale series (Märchenrose); healthy glossy foliage, self-cleaning; compact — for small gardens and containers.

'Little Red Riding Hood' by the Brothers Grimm · dark red that does not fade

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat, in flushes

Repeat-flowering, in flushes from June to October; self-cleaning (deadheading is not necessary). Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Legacy

Fairy-tale series

Märchenrose from Kordes

Winter hardiness

−29 °C

USDA zone 5. Good winter hardiness.

Compare reference temperatures

Plant size

70–80 × 60–70 cm

Habit: Compact, broadly bushy, well branched, upright
Dimensions: 70–80 cm tall × 60–70 cm wide — compact for the middle of a border or for a container
Support: Not needed
Shoots: Sturdy, short
Branching: Dense, even

Flower

≈ 7 cm

70–80 petals.

Bud shape: Round, dark red
Open flower: Nostalgic rosette, quartered
Centre: Dense, with numerous petals
Fullness: Very double — 70–80 petals
Flower carriage: In small clusters

Fragrance

Light

Light (mild, “light and sweet”).

Disease resistance

5 out of 5

Black spotmoderatePowdery mildewmoderate

High (4–5/5): above average against powdery mildew and black spot — typical of a “healthy Kordes”.

Sun

Sun and shade

Full sun or light partial shade.

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Moderate number of thorns (~15–20 per 10 cm).

Foliage

Medium green, glossy, leathery, with 5–7 leaflets.

Other names

Chaperon Rouge, Red Riding Hood, The 1812 Rose

All characteristics in a table

Group: Floribunda; Kordes fairy-tale series (Märchenrose); nostalgic
Breeder: W. Kordes' Söhne, Germany, 2002
Bud shape: Round, dark red
Open flower: Nostalgic rosette, quartered
Centre: Dense, with numerous petals
Colour: Dark red that barely fades and does not “turn blue” — rare colour stability for reds
Fullness: Very double — 70–80 petals
Flower carriage: In small clusters
Flowering: Repeat-flowering, in flushes from June to October; self-cleaning (deadheading is not necessary)
Fragrance: Light (mild, “light and sweet”)
Hips: Not documented
Habit: Compact, broadly bushy, well branched, upright
Branching: Dense, even
Shoots: Sturdy, short
Thorns: Moderate number of thorns (~15–20 per 10 cm).
Dimensions: 70–80 cm tall × 60–70 cm wide — compact for the middle of a border or for a container
Support: Not needed
Foliage: Medium green, glossy, leathery, with 5–7 leaflets
Resistance: High (4–5/5): above average against powdery mildew and black spot — typical of a “healthy Kordes”
Variations of the variety: Code KORcasima. Synonyms: Chaperon Rouge, Red Riding Hood, The 1812 Rose. Parentage: unnamed seedling × Insel Mainau. Cross made in 2002, presented in 2007

Colour scheme

Dark red, which hardly fades and does not “turn blue” — rare colour stability for reds

Rose neighbours

Bordeauxcherry red

Flammentanzraspberry red

Kerioyellow · contrast

Icebergpure white · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Lavenderlavender

Catmintblue-lilac

Woodland sageblue-violet

Stachys (silver)silver-greenWoodland sageStachys (silver)

Neighbouring roses

A red palette with a yellow contrast accent:

Bordeaux Flammentanz Kerio Iceberg

Perennial companions

Silver-violet tones set off the dark red:

lavendercatmintwoodland sageStachys (silver)

Why it's handy

⭐ Undemanding and reliable:

🔴 stable colour — does not fade or turn bluish
🧹 self-cleaning — no need to remove spent flowers
🪴 compact — for small gardens and containers
🌿 very healthy foliage

More about the variety

Hips: Not documented
Variations of the variety: Code KORcasima. Synonyms: Chaperon Rouge, Red Riding Hood, The 1812 Rose. Parentage: unnamed seedling × Insel Mainau. Cross made in 2002, presented in 2007

How to grow

Where to plant. In a sunny spot, at the middle-to-front of a border or in a large container; its compactness makes it convenient for small gardens.

Climate. USDA zone 5 (down to −29 °C), good winter hardiness — reliable for most of Ukraine.

Care. Minimal — self-cleaning, pruning in spring, feeding at the start of the season; thanks to its health it almost never needs fungicides.

About the name

Name. “Rotkäppchen” = “Little Red Riding Hood” — the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm. The variety belongs to the Kordes fairy-tale rose collection (Märchenrose), whose varieties are named after European fairy tales. French synonym — Chaperon Rouge.

Breeding. Bred by W. Kordes' Söhne (Wilhelm Kordes III, Germany; the house was founded in 1887), code KORcasima. Cross made in 2002, presented in 2007. Parentage: unnamed seedling × Insel Mainau.

Significance. One of the unnoticed modest ones that deserves more attention — dark red nostalgic rosettes with stable colour, outstanding health, self-cleaning habit and compactness. An ideal reliable red for a small garden and for beginners.

Frequently asked questions about Rotkäppchen

Does Rotkäppchen need winter protection?

The cultivar’s reference temperature is −29 °C (USDA zone 5). Overwintering depends on the conditions. Good winter hardiness.

How many times a season does Rotkäppchen flower?

Repeat-flowering, in flushes from June to October; self-cleaning (deadheading is not necessary).

How big does Rotkäppchen grow?

70–80 cm tall, 60–70 cm wide.

Which diseases affect Rotkäppchen?

Overall resistance: 5 out of 5. Healthy Kordes; self-cleaning.

How much sun does Rotkäppchen need?

Sun and shade; full sun or light partial shade.

What does Rotkäppchen smell like?