Rosa ‘Earth Angel’ (KORgeowim)
Move over, Souvenir de la Malmaison, you’ve got competition. Meet ‘Earth Angel’ (KORgeowim), a Floribunda from the powerhouse that is Kordes in their Parfuma® Collection.
Particular rose cultivars trend just like anything else, with consumers overcome with a sort of madness to get one for themselves. In our image-driven society, it’s no wonder, when a rose is photographed and blogged heavily, saturating Pinterest and Instagram feeds. I’ve seen it happen with Pierre de Ronsard (aka Eden), Distant Drums, Koko Loco… to name a few. Recently, I believe that distinction has fallen to Earth Angel.
Appearance-wise, Earth Angel delivers just what today’s average consumer wants in a garden rose: blush pink, densely packed with petals, incredibly fragrant, cupped blossoms. In short: pure romance.
It’s funny how trends come and go. If this were the 1960’s, we’d all be exhibiting roses and clamoring for Hybrid Teas in vibrant colors with tall, urn shaped flowers and swirly centers. We wouldn’t give a fig about fragrance or disease resistance but by golly it better have long, straight stems.
Today it seems the bridal market, not rose exhibitions, is the driving force behind what is deemed a classic, beautiful rose. Pale tones, even flesh-colors, with a more “garden rose” appearance are all the rage. I agree, these new shrub roses are fantastic, and I’ll take them over a Hybrid Tea any day of the week, ‘Dark Desire’ the exception. But a perfect rose, to me, has been and always will be, a single.
Back to Earth Angel, I have found with these newer Kordes roses, they take 2-3 years to really get going. In fact, I had nothing but moderate growth, no flowers, on my EA last year. I have also pleasantly discovered that these newer Kordes roses are exceptionally disease resistant. No surprise since Kordes will remove from market any rose that does not do well without chemical interventions.
If you decide to grow Earth Angel, get her off to a good start with good soil and regular feeding but be patient for those blooms to arrive. And if you live in a climate that is very warm I suggest planting her where she will receive the coolness of afternoon shade, which will not only protect the flowers from burning but also from bleaching out.
Although it’s too soon for me to stamp my seal of approval on this one, I am very pleased so far. It’s worth mentioning, too, that we have had epic amounts of rain the past 10 days and not a single bud has balled up. Promising, indeed. Well done, Kordes!
Hi Laurie,
Thanks so much for the info. I bought two of these last summer and it bloomed a few blooms but very small in size and without any pink color. It’s off to a good start so far and has quite a few buds. Can’t wait to see how it does !!!!!!
Stephanie
Ooh exciting! Hope you’re does well! The only thing I’m not really loving is the shorter stems but it does look so beautiful in the garden. 🙂
I moved last year and am in the process of establishing my new rose garden. I planted two EAs in March this year. I am excited to see some small buds already. I am hopeful about this rose.
I did not get a pink DA rose after being disappointed about how fragile the petals on my Heritage Bush were (they shattered after just a few days in my zone 7 garden) and being underwhelmed by the fragrance and blooms of Brother Cadfael. EA seems to have the look of the DA English Roses with hopefully better fragrance and disease resistance.
I agree with you about being disappointed with some Austin roses and the more recent Kordes introductions with their better disease resistance. However, if you’re still on the hunt for a great pink Austin rose, have you tried The Generous Gardener and James Galway? Both are showing exceptional disease resistance in my garden. James also makes a wonderful cut flower. 🙂
I have to say, I have jumped on the band wagon for Kordes full speed ahead. 🙂 The Parfuma collection being my favorite, with Sunbelt, and Arborose selections being a close second. I have 4 First Crush, 4 Summer Romance, and 2 Dark Desire, on their 3rd year, and this year, is the year they are exploding with blooms. First Crush balls in a lot of rain for me, but I still think she is worth it. I should also mention there was a move in those 3 years and that held them back a bit last year although they still did quite good. I added 2 Quicksilver ‘s, a Savannah, and a Pink Enchantment this spring that are all doing great, Savannah especially has shown great vigor. Of course only time will tell for sure. Earth Angel and several others are on my list. I’m surprised that there is not the same frenzy for Kordes roses, that there are for Austins, although as hard as it is to track down some of the Kordes must haves on my list perhaps it is just a quieter frenzy, but still a frenzy. 🙂
You always have the best way with words! And I am totally on that band wagon with you! 😀 I’m so in love with Dark Desire I have 4 of them now, which I never do…and truth be told I’ll probably dig all of them up and take them with me when we move. As for the frenzy, or lack thereof, I just don’t think Kordes makes as much of a priority of PR…it’s word of mouth among us gardeners that seem to be getting them the respect they deserve.
I am in S. California. I purchased one of there last year. Only got little all white “nothing” blooms. Gave it away. Thought I may have gotten a “dud”. I was just at a big well known Nursery in area and they had “Earth Angel”….All it had were little white nothing roses. Mine was feed with organics, fish emulsion and given a little extra iron…nothing. It was planted in a pot with an acid mix soil. All my other roses have done beautifully in this mix.
The person I gave it to..did shovel pruning. Hope your’s is better.
Hi Marilyn! From what I understand in talking with other gardeners in warmer climes, Earth Angel produces small, faded blooms in the heat. In fact, in my garden right now, we’ve had temps in the 90’s and although she is flowering, they are much smaller and less pink then they were several weeks ago. Thank you for sharing your experience!
I just found your blog today (and love it so far) while trying to ID a rose in our new-to-us garden (we bought a house built in 1983 with an old overgrown garden which I am now working on – still no idea what the brilliantly crimson nearly scentless climber is), but I saw this and just swooned! The shape is glorious, and I love-love-love scented roses (the more fragrant the better).
Now I have yet another plant to find a place for, and to source!
Hello Veronika, welcome! 🙂
Thank you for your kind comment about my blog….have you found the answer to your crimson climber? Could it be this one?
I just went and purchased one of these, along with Jasmina and Cinderella Fairytale. Have you tried either of these? I will be growing Jasmina on our “rose fence” and was thinking about throwing Cinderella to the back of the border as I believe she will get rather big! I am starting to run out of room!
I know the feeling! 😉 I don’t have either but Cinderella fairytale has been on my watchlist for a few years. There are several at Biltmore and they are always so lovely.
😲 i might have to get that beauty!
really such a nice roses