'Altissimo' (Pronounced: Al-TEE-Cee-Mo)

ALSO KNOWN AS: 'Altissimo' , 'Altus' , 'DELmur'

 

[Enlarged Image] 'Altissimo' is medium climber with large, flat, single, bright bright blood red flowers.	[Enlarged Image] The blooms are so bright that they are almost startling, and they hold their color well as the blooms age.
[Enlarged Image] 'Altissimo' blooms are single (5 to 7 petals) and a very bright red.	[Enlarged Image] Under certain lighting conditions, the blooms almost "glow".
[Enlarged Image] The growth habit of 'Altissimo' is narrow and upright, and the canes are thick and stiff like other modern climbers.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:	The name 'Altissimo' is Spanish for "the highest", which might refer to the quality of the flowers or their position at the ends of the canes. It has beautiful, large, single, bright blood red glowers, but sadly is has little scent. 'Altissimo' produces large (4”-5”), cupped to flat, single (7 petals), slightly fragrant, medium red flowers throughout the season. The foliage is dark green and serrated. The growth is vigorous and it makes an excellent pillar or trellis rose.
BOTANICAL GROUP:	Synstylae
GROUP:
CLASS:	LCl
SEED PARENT:	'Tenor'
POLLEN PARENT:	Seedling
BREEDER:	Delbard-Chabert
INTRODUCED:	'Altissimo' was bred by Delbard-Chabert, and introduced in France by Cuthbert in 1966.
DATE:	1966 [ France ]
PLANT SIZE AND FORM:	Height:    8 '     to    10 '           Width:    3 '     to    3 ' 'Altissimo' medium climber (8-10 feet).
FOLIAGE DESCRIPTION:	The foliage is dark green, leathery, and serrated.
FOLIAGE FRAGRANCE:	None.
BLOOM FREQUENCY:	C - Continuous. 'Altissimo' starts blooming in April in the Texas Hill Country and repeats throughout the growing season.
BLOOM DESCRIPTION:	Flower Size:    4.00"      to      5.00"           Cluster Size:    3      to      5           Petal Count:    5 to 7           'Altissimo flowers are single (5-7 petals) and very large (5 " across). They are borne profusely in small clusters.
BLOOM COLOR:	mr - Medium red. 'Altissimo' blooms are a very bright blood red with golden stamens.
COLOR VARIATION:	None.
FRAGRANCE:	SF - Slightly fragrant.
HIPS:	None observed.
CLIMATE:	Zones 5 - 9
CULTURE:	'Altissimo' is is a very hardy and trouble free rose that can be grown as a large shrub (8 ' x 8') or as a moderate climber ( to 10 feet). It offers no problems in cultivation.
PROPAGATION:	'Altissimo' is moderately easy to propagate by cuttings.
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS:	** Tolerant of poorer soils     ** Availability is limited 'Altissimo' canes become rigid as they mature, so training around trellises or pillars should begin when the canes are young. The blooms occur at the tips of the main canes and also at the tips of laterals. Deadheading will encourage growth of new laterals and will therefore encourage additional flushes of flowers.
ANECDOTAL INFORMATION:	'Altissimo's' growth is stiff and it can look awkward by itself. So plant it along a short fence and let it spread out. It allowed to grow upright, a companion bush should be planted to "cover its knees". 'Altissimo' is a superb pillar rose but it does not do very well as a wall plant.
REFERENCES:	American Rose Society. Modern Roses 10. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 1993, p. 11. American Rose Society. Modern Roses XI. Shreveport, Louisiana: American Rose Society. 2000, p. 116. Antique Rose Emporium. The Antique Rose Emporium 1988 Catalog. Independence, Texas: Antique Rose Emporium. 1988, p. 42. Austin, David. The Heritage of the Rose. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors Club, Ltd.. 1990, p. 289. Barnard, Loretta, ed.. 500 Popular Roses for American Gardens. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series, Inc.. 1997, p. 115-116. Beales, Peter. Classic Roses. New York: Henry Holt & Company. 1997, pP. 272-273. Druitt, Liz. The Organic Rose Garden. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company. 1996, pp. 100, 102, 108.