On the page for Kordes' Orangerie, Michael Garhart and Robert Neil Rippetoe suggest that this rose, while very healthy, vigorous and free-blooming, has blooms that decay very rapidly, and become very unattractive on the bush in their gardens.
The Kordes Europe site gives Firebird stellar health grades, and in a color range that doesn't usually correlate with great health. Has anyone used it for any breeding? It sounds like a strong plant, flower life notwithstanding, and might have great potential as a prospective parent, if the bush sets hips. Can anybody confirm?
Hi, if you look at the pics, I show how badly the color degrades. It was very healthy. The plant was nice, except too tall. It had an odd growth type. Kind of like how 'Long Tall Sally' grows.
It is possible that maybe pollen would work from it with a lot of effort, but it seemed to not prefer to reproduce pollen or seed at will.
Based on the code, it was probably bred from Goldener Sommer 83 and something else.
Currently growing the newer 'Garden Flame', and it shares a lot of traits. So far, it ages better and retains yellow longer. No idea on mature growth yet, but foliage appears to have downy resistance.
No verdict yet. Just notes for now. When I have a verdict for my area, I will try to remember to post it.
