Kiss Me Kate is a romantic and vigorous climbing rose from the renowned German breeder Kordes. This exceptional plant produces an abundance of large, deeply cupped flowers in a beautiful, intense pink colour. The blooms emit a strong, sweet old-rose fragrance, making it a true sensory delight in the garden. Its name is inspired by the famous musical, and the rose is known for its excellent health and disease resistance.
- Sunlight Requirement: This rose needs full sun to perform at its best. Plant it in a position that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight per day to ensure a spectacular bloom and healthy growth.
- Usage: As a climbing rose, ‘Kiss Me Kate’ is perfect for training up trellises, arbours, fences, pergolas, or against a sturdy wall. Its strong, flexible canes make it easy to train, and it will quickly provide a stunning vertical display of colour and fragrance.
- Care Tips:
- Watering: Provide regular, deep watering, especially during its first season and in periods of dry weather. Ensure the water reaches the root system.
- Soil: ‘Kiss Me Kate’ prefers rich, fertile, and well-draining soil. To help it thrive, incorporate plenty of organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, before planting.
- Pruning: Pruning is key to managing a climbing rose. In late winter, give it a good prune to establish its framework. Throughout the flowering season, you can lightly trim spent flowers to encourage repeat blooming. Training horizontal canes will also promote more flowers.
- Fertiliser: Feed the plant with a specialised rose fertiliser in early spring and again after the first major flush of flowers to support its vigorous growth and abundant blooms.