Wilhelm Kordes II bred Dortmund in Germany in 1955 as a cross with Rosa kordesii, and the rugose Kordesii influence shows in its constitution: this is a rose built for exposure, tolerant of partial shade and leaner soils than most hybrid teas demand. The glossy dark foliage is disease-resistant enough to make Dortmund genuinely low-maintenance by rose standards, and it earns high marks for good reason. Flowers are 4-5 inches across, clustered, cherry red with a clean white center and a ring of yellow stamens.

Dortmund works convincingly in two very different roles. Left to ramble, it will reach 8-10 feet and clothe a fence or pillar with characteristic energy. Cut back hard each season, it behaves as a handsome upright shrub, suitable for hedges and specimen planting. Either way, the repeat bloom runs reliably through fall, making it one of the more versatile performers in the Kordesii class. Grow in full sun to partial shade, zones 5-9.