Santana

Where to plant. On a pillar or pergola as a bold vertical accent; on a south-facing wall; as a “fiery column” in the garden; works well on its own thanks to its intense colour.

Climate. USDA 6b-9b; in Ukraine it needs winter protection north of Kyiv, while in the south and centre it needs none; copes well with summer heat without fading.

Care. Full sun; disease prevention against black spot is essential; feed 2-3 times per season; in spring prune weak shoots and keep the main framework canes for 3-5 years.

Name. 'Santana', after the American rock band Santana (Carlos Santana). The band's Caribbean-Latin temperament is rendered as the flower's fiery red colour. One of the few varieties named after a modern music group, a typical Tantau marketing move of the 1980s to make it memorable.

Breeding. Bred by Hans Jürgen Evers at Rosen Tantau (Uetersen, Germany). Code TANklesant. Introduced 1985. Parentage according to Tantau's catalogue: Max Graf × R. wichurana seedlings, the inheritance of wild rambler root lines, which gives exceptional vigour and sturdy canes.

Significance. Over 40 years among Tantau's top sellers, a rare longevity for a red climber. It does not fade in the sun, the standard against which new red climbers are compared. Sturdy, stiff canes make it the benchmark for the pillar form (a vertical column). It holds its shape well thanks to its upright habit and does not 'flop' like many other climbers. A myth that circulates online, 'ADR 1985', is not confirmed: the variety is absent from Tantau's official list of ADR-roses, so be careful with sources that claim it. Moderate resistance to black spot (2/5): needs moderate disease prevention, especially in wet seasons.