Rose Handel

‘Handel’ is one of the most recognizable bicoloured climbers of the twentieth century: a McGredy rose whose creamy white flowers, brushed and edged in rose-pink, remain immediately identifiable even at some distance. It is not the biggest or the most perfumed of Large flowered climbers, but it has long endured because it offers a rare combination of repeat bloom, manageable scale, and a distinctive picotee-style colouring that reads clearly in ordinary garden light. For gardeners who want a climber with a cultivated, almost porcelain finish rather than a loose rambling effect, it still has considerable charm. Its best displays come when the flowers are seen near eye level, where the broad pink margins, dark stems, and glossy foliage can be appreciated in detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

When it appeared, contemporary and later rose writers repeatedly treated it as a novelty because it brought a sharply defined rose-pink edging to a repeat flowering climber, a pattern that evoked the edged and blended tones admired in modern bush roses yet had rarely been seen so effectively in a climbing plant. Such creamy or silvery white petals, pink to cherry-pink margins, glossy dark foliage, and a medium-sized climbing habit were never seen on a Climbing rose before. What keeps it relevant in modern gardens is not merely nostalgia; it is the fact that the plant still answers a practical need. Many gardeners want a climber for a wall, fence, pillar, or arch that does not become a vast rambler, repeats beyond the first flush, and offers a refined flower colour that can connect with pink, cream, white, and silver planting schemes. ‘Handel’ still does that very persuasively.

FLOWERING

Repeat flowering is one of its chief merits of ‘Hende’ - it flowers in flushes from summer into autumn, though growers in cooler or more exacting climates sometimes report that the first flush is the strongest and later flushes are lighter or scarce.

Flower bud:

The buds of ‘Handel’ are graceful and elongated, especially attractive in the half-open stage before the flower broadens and exposes more of its centre. The bud begins in a cream to pale ivory tones range, often with a warmer yellowish tone toward the centre and a pink wash or edging already visible on the outer petal margins; as it expands, the pink border becomes clearer and in cool weather can remain sharply defined. Sepal and peduncle have medium green colour, and the buds are carried on reasonably sturdy peduncles, usually in small clusters.

Bloom:

The open flowers of rose variety ‘Handel’ are medium to large in size, to about 8 - 10 cm (just over 3 - 4 in) in diameter, mostly double but can be double to semi-double, commonly have about 22 to 30 petals, which places it near the border of semi-double to double depending on weather, season, and stage of opening. The bloom begins to open in a fairly classic, high-centred or exhibition-like shape, and then relaxes into a shallow cup or open cup, sometimes broad enough to reveal the yellow stamens. The flowers are produced singly and in small to moderate clusters, of three to nine blooms together on a flowering stem, although often three to five is the most typical count.

The colour is the reason the cultivar became famous. Just opened blooms are usually cream-white, ivory, or silvery white, often with a warm pale yellow glow near the centre, and every petal is edged or outlined in rose-pink to cherry-pink. As the flower ages, the margin frequently broadens and deepens, so the contrast between centre and edge can intensify at first and then, in hot weather, become less distinct as more of the petal surface takes on pink. The half-open bloom is often the most beautiful moment, when the wave of pink at the petal edge heightens the bud form.

Petals:

The petals are generally softly undulating or wavy on the margins, a feature that softens what might otherwise be a rather formal bicolour bloom. Their texture appears moderately thick; in fine weather the blooms hold attractively, while the petals of this rose variety are generally rain-resistant, prolonged damp can brown the petal edges, flatten the contrast, or shorten the life of the flower. As the flower ages, the creamy centre tends to whiten or flush pink depending on temperature and light, so old flowers are often rosier and less crisply edged than new ones.

Fragrance:

The fragrance is present in ‘Handel’, but it is not the rose’s principal ornament. The scent varies from mild to light, with a honey note. For growers who demand a strongly scented climber, ‘Handel’ will feel modest; for those willing to trade fragrance for colour and repeat bloom, the balance may seem entirely reasonable.

Reproductive parts:

Because the bloom often opens sufficiently to reveal a golden centre, the stamens can contribute a useful flash of warm colour against the cool cream-and-pink petals.

PLANT

‘Handel’, properly also encountered as ‘Händel’ is usually placed among Large Flowered Climbers, though its classification has never been entirely rigid. Major rose references variously describe it as a Climber, a Climbing Floribunda, or a Large Flowered Climber, while the public RHS plant listing places it under a Climbing Hybrid Tea style even as the plant itself shows some Floribunda-derived tendencies in its clustering and rebloom. That ambiguity is horticulturally understandable: it is not a coarse pillar rose with huge solitary blooms, nor is it merely a cluster-flowered climber in the old Floribunda manner. Instead, it occupies a transitional and highly useful middle ground, combining a relatively refined bloom form with repeat flowering and enough restraint of size to suit smaller structures.

‘Händel’ is best understood as a repeat-flowering, medium to moderately tall modern climber with Large Flowered Climber character and some evident Floribunda inheritance in the way it flowers. The mature and well established plants of this rose typically reach about 250 - 400 cm (8 to 13 ft) in height, though under good care and in more warmer climates it may push the height a little higher. The spread of its plants is usually about 150 - 250 cm (5 to 8 ft), enough to clothe a wall or arch without immediately overwhelming it. The growth character tends to be upright when young, then more adaptable under training; it is therefore especially useful for fences, trellis panels, pergolas, pillars, and modest arches, and it is also suitable for cutting because the flowers are carried on stems of useful length. Ornamental value is highest when the plant is trained patiently and the flowers can be viewed close at hand against a pale support or background, which sets off the pink-edged blooms to notable advantage.

In cultivation, the growing advice is fairly classical. Plant it in full sun where possible, though some rose guides allow light shade and some experienced growers report acceptable performance with partial shade; as always with bicoloured roses, too much shade reduces flowering and too much scorching exposure can blur the colouring. Fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, with balanced feeding in late winter or early spring and again in early summer, followed by mulching is most desirable to support its profuse flowering. Climbing roses should not be planted tight against a wall; allowing about 45 cm (18 in) from a solid wall helps avoid the rain shadow that dries the rooting zone. Pruning should be that of a repeat-flowering climber: preserve and train the main framework, remove dead, diseased, and unproductive wood, and tie the long new canes as near to horizontal as the design allows, since this encourages flowering laterals and a fuller display.

Foliage:

The foliage of ‘Handel’ is highly attractive, dark green and glossy, the leaves may be tinged purple when young, especially prominent together with the dark young stems, the colour of which varies from dark purple to bronze; as the foliage matures the colour shifts to dark green. This depth of foliage colour improves the contrast with the pale flowers and helps keep the plant from looking washed out, which can be a problem in softer-coloured climbers. The visual effect is unmistakably modern: polished, reasonably substantial, and ornamental even when the plant is between flushes.

Leaflets:

The number of the leaflets on a normal foliage in the middle of the stem is typically 5, including the terminal leaflet. Leaf surface that is glossy, and leathery in texture, the leaflets have broadly ovate shape with somewhat elongated and pointed apex and rounded base; the edges are serrated, the type of serration is large and single.

Wood:

The canes are generally upright, vigorous, and fairly stiff. The colour of the stems is rather dark green; the branching habit is good, and not altogether willowy, which matters in practice because such stems are excellent for building a framework but can be less easy to bend for winter protection than more supple climbers. Once established, the plant continues to send up new shoots and becomes better-looking as the framework matures. This is not a rose that always looks fully persuasive in its first season; it improves markedly when given time to furnish several large main canes and enough laterals for generous repeat blooming.

Prickles:

There is a normal to slightly large quantity of prickles present on the main canes and on the laterals from the main canes of this rose variety; it is among the pricklier modern Climbers covered with fairly strong armature. The prickles appear to be of ordinary moderate size, sufficient to grip supports and to remind the gardener to wear gloves. In use this means that training and tying-in are easier if begun when shoots are still young and not yet fully stiffened. The young prickles have purplish brown colour and later maturing to mostly gray; the shape is rather pyramidal, slightly curved downward.

Small prickles:

Under normal growing conditions the small prickles are not present on the main canes and on the laterals form the main canes of the rose ‘Handel’.

Disease resistance and stress tolerance:

Here a balanced view is important, because ‘Handel’ is admired, but it is not a modern no-spray benchmark. Most commonly noted that it is susceptible to black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) , especially in wet and colder climates. It is also somewhat susceptible to mildew (Podosphaera pannosa) and botrytis. Although growers in drier climates report acceptable performance with modest care. Give it sun, open air, good feeding, and a root run that does not dry out beneath walls; space and pruning that improve air circulation are especially valuable.

In climatic terms, the rose is recommended for growing in climates similar to USDA Zone 6b to 9b, though some Central and Eastern European catalogues place it in 6a, and the RHS gives it hardiness H6 in the UK. In colder climates, it is generally hardy but still worth providing with some shelter in winter, planting with the bud union slightly below soil level, and protecting the base in severe winters; hilling a dry, free-draining compost-soil mix around the crown remains sound practice.

It has good heat tolerance, but flower colour is generally judged finest in cooler, drier weather, while drought stress can weaken the plant and make foliar disease more likely.

The name of this rose honours the Baroque composer George Frideric Handel, in the German form “Händel”. “Händel” is the historically Germanic form of its name.

“Haendel” is the standard transliteration where the umlaut cannot be used.

“Handel” is the simplified Anglicized trade form found in British, American, and New Zealand commerce; and “McGredy’s Händel” is simply a breeder-associated market styling.

‘Handel’ after the introduction immediately received the RNRS Trial Ground Certificate in 1965, the Portland Gold Medal from the Portland Rose Society in 1975, and a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993. The Irish historical source quoted above also records a Prize of the Dutch Nurserymen’s Association, but the exact year of that award was not confirmed in the accessible sources and The Hague - Second Class Certificate in The Hague Rose Trials in 1971.

The exhibition history in American Rose Society show lists following wins:

Climber (ARS), Humboldt Rose Society Show, 2001;

Climber (ARS), Huntington Rose Society Show, 2001;

Climber (ARS), Peninsula Rose Society Show, 2001;

Climber (ARS), Peninsula Rose Society Show, 2000;

Climber (ARS), San Francisco Rose Society Show, 2000;

Climber (ARS), Corvallis Rose Society Show, 1999;

Climber (ARS), East Bay Rose Society Show, 1999;

Climber (ARS), Garden State Rose Club (New Jersey) Show, 1999;

Climber (ARS), Albany Rose Society Fall Show, 1998;

Climber (ARS), East Bay Rose Society Show, 1998;

Climber (ARS), Mountain State Rose Society Show, 1998;

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘MACha’ / 'Handel' originated by Sam McGredy IV by crossing the seed parent Climbing Floribunda rose variety ’Heidelberg’ by Kordes with the pollen parent Floribunda rose variety ’Columbine’ from Poulsen. ‘Handel’ was bred in Northern Ireland around 1960 and 1965 was the year of its introduction in the United Kingdom under the name ‘Händel’; France followed in 1966 with ‘Haendel’, New Zealand also in 1966 with ‘Handel’, and Australia in 1968 with ‘Händel’. The rose was important enough in McGredy’s later recollection that he described it as one of his most successful introductions, and historical Irish horticultural literature records an additional Prize of the Dutch Nurserymen’s Association, though the year of that prize was not confirmed in the accessible public sources.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The broader significance of ‘Handel’ becomes clearer when viewed against the development of modern climbers after the Second World War. Climbing Hybrid Teas and Climbing Floribundas certainly existed, but the class was uneven: many were sports, many were vigorous but coarse, and many excellent climbers flowered heavily only once. Rose encyclopaedia sources further remark that the cultivar caused a sensation on release because it was among the first repeat-flowering climbers to combine a clear pale ground colour with a pronounced dark pink edge, and because its more moderate habit suggested new possibilities for smaller gardens. Its later value as breeding material is demonstrated by its presence in the ancestry of ‘Pierre de Ronsard’, one of the major climbers of the late twentieth century. In that sense, ‘Handel’ is not simply a garden survivor but a historical bridge between earlier reblooming climbers and later, more theatrically coloured romantic climbers.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

Rose variety ‘Handel’ remains a rose of marked personality. It is not flawless: it can be vulnerable to black spot, its perfume is light, and its colouring is weather-sensitive. Yet the very qualities that first made it famous still give it distinction today. Few climbers of comparable scale offer such a poised marriage of repeat flowering, elegant opening buds, glossy dark foliage, and that memorable pink-edged bloom, at once formal and softly romantic. This rose variety incorporated the following unique combination of characteristics:

  a repeat-flowering medium Climber bearing cream-white to silvery white blooms distinctly edged in rose-pink;

  flowers that are especially elegant in the long-budded, half-open stage, with softly waved petal margins;

  glossy dark green foliage, often with bronze or purplish tinting on young growth and dark stems that intensify the floral display;

  manageable Large Flowered Climber habit suitable for walls, fences, pillars, pergolas, and smaller garden structures.

The propagation methods suitable for the rose ‘Handel’are: propagation by softwood cuttings in early to mid-spring, hardwood cuttings in late summer to autumn, and chip budding in summer; in commerce, budding or grafting has traditionally been common, though the rose can also be maintained on its own roots where stock and climate permit.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

Handel’ differs from the seed parent ‘Heidelberg’ by exchanging the parent’s rich crimson-red, fuller red-climber effect for a much paler cream-white ground colour with rose-pink edging, while retaining something of the climbing vigour, glossy dark foliage, and reblooming character.

Compared with the seed parent ‘Columbine’, a cream-yellow with pink shading and notably stronger fragrance Floribunda, ‘Händel’ enlarges and elevates the colour pattern into a climbing rose of cleaner bicolour contrast, but with reduced perfume and a more larger habit. The resulting seedling appears to have taken its framework, dark foliage, and climber tendency from ‘Heidelberg’, while translating the pale-and-pink tonal refinement of ‘Columbine’ into one of the best-known picotee climbers of its era.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

Among roses still widely sold, ‘Antike 89’ is probably the closest useful commercial comparator. Like ‘Händel’, it is a Large Flowered Climber with pale petals edged in deeper pink-red tones, glossy dark foliage, and repeat flowering. The key differences are instructive. ‘Antike 89’ is stronger, usually taller, fuller in petal count, and more old-rose in style, with broader clusters and a more fuller flower that often reads as rounded and romantic rather than high-centred. It is also commonly rated hardier, extending down to colder USDA ratings in commerce. ‘Händel’, by contrast, is the subtler and more linear rose: the bloom usually opens with a more refined bud form, the bicolour margin is often sharper and more graphic, and the overall plant suits gardeners who want elegance and definition rather than abundance and mass. In design terms, ‘Antike 89’ is better for a lush, opulent curtain of bloom, while ‘Händel’ is better where a controlled framework and distinct flower colouring are the main goals

USDA 6

USDA Zone 6 - hardiness guide