Rose Maxim

‘Maxim’ is a modern hybrid tea rose bred by Rosen Tantau and belongs to their “Nostalgic” series of roses that combine old-fashioned bloom form and fragrance with modern disease resistance. The variety is known for its large, very full bicolor blooms of vivid carmine-pink on the inside of the petals with a silvery-white reverse, which are borne in flushes from late spring until frost. In international trials, ‘Maxim’ has garnered top honors for garden performance, including the prestigious ADR 2019 award in Germany and multiple European rose competition accolades, underscoring its high disease resistance and landscape merit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

FLOWERING

‘Maxim’ is a repeat-flowering rose variety, blooming in flushes from late spring to autumn. After the main June bloom, it continually initiates new buds given proper care. In a growing season, expect a heavy late spring or early summer flush, a lighter but ongoing summer bloom, and often an excellent fall flush when nights are cool.

Buds are pointed and ovoid and they open slowly, which prolongs the decorative stage. The flowers of ‘Maxim’ are large, each bloom averages about 8 - 10 cm (3 - 4 inches) in diameter when fully open. The flowers are very full Nostalgic flowers, they start as cupped and when fully open they reveal a swirling rosette petal arrangement reminiscent of antique roses, with the outer petals reflexing slightly at maturity. The blooms are borne mostly singly on long stems, one per stem, which is ideal for cutting, or sometimes in small clusters of 2 - 3 buds together on the same stem. A single plant can carry many blooms simultaneously during peak flush, creating a stunning bicolor display.

The color of ‘Maxim’ is distinctive and often described in evocative terms. It is a bicolor rose, combining rich pink and white tones. The inner face of each petal is a vibrant carmine-rose or cherry pink, while the outer reverse side is a contrasting silvery white to pale pearl-grey. When the bloom is partially open, this gives a two-tone effect: the central parts appear deep pink, and the petal undersides visible at the edges add a white or silver halo. In full bloom, some white from petal reverses mixes into the overall look, often with a blush or light pink undertone in the outer petals. The intensity of the pink can deepen slightly in cooler weather and is generally stable, fading only minimally to a lighter pink as the flower ages. Importantly, the bicolor effect is best observed in temperate climates; very hot sun can cause the pink to dominate as blooms age, whereas cool nights enhance the contrast. ‘Maxim’ does not have striping or variegation - the color pattern is a solid bicolor split between petal surfaces.

Each bloom typically lasts for about 5 - 7 days on the plant in mild weather, and shorter in extreme heat or rain. Petals drop cleanly or can be manually deadheaded. Interestingly, the rose has some ability to self-clean; in very wet conditions petals may fall quickly which helps prevent botrytis blight on spent blooms. Unlike some modern roses, ‘Maxim’ does not produce decorative hips readily, since spent blooms tend to be removed or do not set seed effectively. This is advantageous for continuous flowering, as the plant puts energy into new buds rather than seed formation.

Fragrance:

The fragrance of ‘Maxim’ is notably strong for a modern hybrid tea that also has good disease resistance.The scent is often described as a classic sweet rose fragrance with a hint of fruit.

PLANT

Rose variety ‘Maxim’ is classified as a Hybrid Tea rose, and marketed by the breeder as a Nostalgic Hybrid Tea, indicating an old-fashioned bloom style on a modern plant. It grows as a medium-sized deciduous shrub, typically reaching about 70 - 100 cm in height (2.5 - 3.5 ft) and a similar width around 60 - 100 cm (2 - 3.5 ft) under normal pruning and when mature and well-established. The growth habit is upright and bushy.

Basal shoots are strong, and the plant tends to maintain a broad, well-branched shape rather than the very tall, narrow habit of some older HT roses. This makes ‘Maxim’ suitable for both specimen planting and grouping in beds of 5 - 6 plants per m², at 40 - 50 cm spacing is recommended for mass displays. Young plants establish quickly, and mature bushes are sturdy, often not requiring staking except when grown as a standard (tree rose). Foliage:

There is a normal quantity of the foliage on the plants of this rose variety. The leaves of ‘Maxim’ are pinnate with 5 - 7 leaflets, typical of hybrid teas. They are a deep, dark green color and have a glossy finish. The edges are serrated, the type of serration is single and large. This glossy foliage is noted to be very healthy and attractive, contributing to the plant’s overall ornamental appeal. The texture of the leaf is leathery and its sheen helps resist fungal spore adhesion to some extent. The plentiful, healthy leaves not only indicate strong vigor but also provide an attractive backdrop that sets off the bicolor blooms. New shoots and foliage are moderately bronzed when young, maturing to the deep green hue.

Prickles:

‘Maxim’ carries a typical quantity of prickles for a hybrid tea. Stems have densely spaced, stout prickles, fairly dense and strong. The thorns are pale green to red when young, hardening to brown as canes mature. While not completely prickless, their density is not extreme; it is comparable to classic hybrid teas, so gardeners should wear gloves when pruning.

Disease resistance:

Rose variety ‘Maxim’ has very robust resistance to common rose diseases. In no-spray trials and gardens, it has shown high tolerance, particularly to black spot (Diplocarpon rosae) and powdery mildew (Podosphaera pannosa). Its ADR award explicitly certifies its above-average disease resistance. Many gardeners report that ‘Maxim’’s foliage remains clean even in humid, disease-prone summers where susceptible varieties defoliate. Black spot may cause at most a few yellowing leaves late in the season, but ‘Maxim’ far outperforms typical Hybrid Tea roses in disease resistance trials. Powdery mildew has been observed only rarely on ‘Maxim’, usually if airflow is very poor; the glossy leaf surface and hardy constitution seem to reduce mildew severity. It has also shown good resistance to rust (Phragmidium mucronatum); no significant rust was noted during ADR tests.

In terms of stress tolerance, ‘Maxim’ handles heat and cold better than many hybrid teas. It is winter-hardy to approximately USDA Zone 6 or slightly colder with protection. Specifically, it tolerates temperatures below –15 °C (5 °F) with minimal damage, especially if winterized, corresponding to Zone 6 and in USDA zone 5b in sheltered sites. In very cold USDA zone 5 climates, it may experience cane dieback without protection, but it can resprout from the base if graft union is protected. For heat tolerance, ‘Maxim’ performs well in warm-summer continental climates. In Texas trials, similar robust roses thrived through record heat (≥ 37 °C) with minimal irrigation, suggesting that once established, ‘Maxim’ can handle heat and even short droughts if necessary (though regular watering improves bloom quality). Its flowers have reasonable rain tolerance - the petals are thick enough not to ball severely in wet weather, and any spotting on the petals (due to rain) is usually minor. The plant’s overall vigor also helps it outgrow minor pest or weather damage. All these traits mark ‘Maxim’ as a relatively low-maintenance, resilient hybrid tea, suitable for both hobbyist gardeners and public plantings where minimal spraying is desired.

The exhibition/trade name ‘Maxim’ is used internationally, with no major renaming in other languages. Notably, this rose should not be confused with a different Tantau hybrid tea introduced in 1993 under the name ‘Maxime’ (TANmixa, trade name “Joy of Life”), which is a distinct cultivar.

In competitive trials, ‘Maxim’ has proven its merit among modern roses. Most prominently, it earned the coveted ADR designation in 2019 in the Allgemeine Deutsche Rosenneuheitenprüfung (ADR) - Germany’s rigorous independent rose trial. This ADR® quality seal is significant; only a few hybrid tea roses meet the stringent ADR standards for multi-year performance without chemical pesticides. The ADR evaluation focuses on disease resistance (no fungicides are permitted in testing since 1997) as well as flowering, hardiness, and ornamental qualities.

In addition to ADR, ‘Maxim’ received a Certificate of Merit (Certificat de Mérite) in 2018 at the international rose competition in Le Roeulx, Belgium.

It also won the Excellence Rose title in The Hague (Netherlands) in 2021 and 2022.

These honors across different countries underscore ‘Maxim’s reliability and garden performance. Its success in trials positions ‘Maxim’ as an important cultivar in modern rose cultivation - a reference point for breeders aiming to unite ornamental excellence and disease hardiness in one rose.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The rose variety ‘TAN10605’ / ‘Maxim’ was developed by the team at Rosen Tantau. During the period ‘Maxim’ was bred (circa 2009–2010, if we infer from code “10-605”), the breeding program was likely overseen by Christian Evers (Hans Jürgen Evers’s son) and colleagues at Tantau. The exact parentage of ‘TAN10605’ / ‘Maxim’ has not been publicly disclosed by Rosen Tantau. This is not unusual, as many commercial rose breeders keep pedigree information proprietary, especially for recent introductions.

USDA 6