GRAND AWARD ® – dark red climbing rose - Olesen
Imagine returning from a breezy shoreline walk to enjoy tea in the lee of a rose-covered trellis: GRAND AWARD® builds that sheltered corner with dramatic colour, reliable structure and generous flowering. This dark red Courtyard® climber clothes arches, walls and pergolas with full, rosette blooms, giving an extended season of interest on a compact framework well suited to typical UK family gardens. Own-root plants offer reassuring longevity, steady recovery after harsh winters and dependable shape without graft suckers, while the pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2‑litre format makes planting effortless for beginners. In windy, exposed plots it settles securely, helping to create calm pockets even where the soil is heavy and needs improved drainage for stability in blustery weather and winter wet. Over three seasons it moves from establishing roots, to building confident shoots, to delivering its full ornamental presence with rich, romantic walls of blossom and quietly refined garden structure that stays pleasing with minimal upkeep.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Sunny courtyard wall in a small family garden |
Ideal where space is tight but you want height and drama rather than wide borders. Trained flat against a sunny wall, this climber uses very little ground area yet provides a long season of dark red colour, suiting busy homeowners and beginners. |
| Coastal veranda or sheltered seating nook |
Once well anchored, its climbing habit helps form a living windbreak, softening sea breezes while you sit outdoors after a day on the beach. In exposed gardens it appreciates improved drainage and firm supports for reliable stability in blustery weather, appealing to coastal-style gardeners. |
| Arch over a shingle path or garden entrance |
Trained over an arch, its rosette blooms frame views and create a welcoming gateway without demanding complex pruning routines. Regular tying-in is usually enough to keep it tidy, which suits time-poor householders seeking impact with modest ongoing effort. |
| Pergola beside a patio or outdoor dining area |
The combination of classic red flowers and mild fragrance makes it a charming backdrop to family meals and evening drinks. Its repeat blooming keeps colour returning through the season, rewarding those who want results from simple, once-a-year maintenance and casual watering. |
| Feature climber in a compact front garden |
Used as a solitary climber on a façade or sturdy obelisk, it provides a strong vertical accent that looks composed all year. Own-root growth supports a long-lived framework, ideal for homeowners aiming to plant once and enjoy dependable structure for many seasons of use. |
| Mixed coastal-style planting with grasses and perennials |
Its deep red flowers contrast beautifully with blue-toned grasses, sea kale and pale perennials, giving a “girly coastal” palette without feeling fussy. The structured habit helps knit mixed plantings together, appealing to design-conscious but practically minded terrace and balcony owners. |
| Cutting corner for home flower arrangements |
Large, very double blooms on manageable stems make handsome indoor stems, so one plant can supply vases through much of summer. Good repeat flowering means you can cut some sprays without spoiling the display outside, which suits home decorators and casual flower-arranging enthusiasts. |
| Long-term investment planting along a boundary or fence |
Planted at sensible spacing, it will steadily clothe fencing with foliage and flowers, giving privacy and decoration over many years. Own-root resilience and solid winter hardiness support a gradual, reliable build-up of coverage valued by long-term planners and young family households. |
Styling ideas
- Harbour-porch arch – Train GRAND AWARD® over a metal or timber arch at the entrance to a coastal-style front garden, underplant with Festuca and sea kale – for seaside veranda owners wanting instant character.
- Courtyard screen – Cover a trellis against a sunny wall with this climber, pairing it with pots of Lavandula for scent and soft contrast – for small-garden homeowners seeking privacy and low-fuss elegance.
- Evening pergola – Let it scramble along a pergola beam with Coreopsis and glaucous sedges at ground level, creating a sheltered, wind-filtering canopy – for families who dine outdoors in breezy locations.
- Compact facade pillar – Grow as a narrow column on a sturdy pillar or obelisk by the front door, with simple gravel or shingle below – for busy occupants wanting height and colour without wide borders.
- Romantic balcony pot – Plant a single own-root rose in a 40–50 litre container with free-draining compost and low grasses for movement – for balcony and terrace users wanting long-lived structure in one pot.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Grand Award® Courtyard® (registered as POUlcy014), a large-flowered climbing rose in the Courtyard® collection; approved exhibition name Grand Award; commercial climber for walls, arches and pergolas. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Mogens Nyegaard Olesen for Poulsen Roser A/S from two unnamed parents in Denmark (2001); registered 2014 with US Plant Patent PP 24 695; introduced commercially after 2014 as a garden climber. |
| Awards and recognition |
Decorated European climber with major show success: Le Roeulx “Most Beautiful Rose” audience award (2010); Monza and Baden-Baden gold medals (2011); multiple Barcelona and Belfast distinctions for climbing performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit, typically 140–240 cm high with 80–160 cm spread, forming a medium-density framework. Glossy mid-green foliage and moderate thorniness; best trained on sturdy supports for walls, arches or pergolas. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms with 40+ petals, borne mainly in clusters. Classified as remontant, giving a generous main flush followed by abundant rebloom, suitable for both display and cutting for the house. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark red petals (RHS 45A outer, 53C inner) with bright, even colour that fades only slightly, remaining deep red to petal fall. Buds open from deep crimson to full, uniform red, giving a consistently rich colour impression. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Classic rose fragrance of mild to moderate strength, adding a subtle scent without overwhelming nearby seating areas. Suitable for patios or paths where a gentle traditional rose aroma is preferred over intense perfume. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip production is generally low; any hips that do form are very small, typically below 5 mm in diameter and not significant ornamentally, so the plant is grown primarily for its flowering display rather than autumn fruit. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7; USDA 6b; Swedish zone 3). Shows resistance to powdery mildew and rust, with moderate black spot susceptibility; may need protection in persistently humid regions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers sunny positions with well-prepared, free-draining soil; ideal for walls, pergolas, arches and cutting. Space 140–240 cm depending on use; tie in new shoots regularly and prune lightly to maintain flowering framework. |
GRAND AWARD ® Courtyard® offers long-lived own-root reliability, space-saving vertical colour and rewarding repeat flowering in typical family gardens, making it a thoughtful choice if you value enduring structure with relatively simple care.
