GRAND AWARD ® – dark red climbing rose – Olesen
Climbing across walls, arches or pergolas, GRAND AWARD ® brings romantic dark red rosette blooms in generous waves through the season, with reliable repeat flowers even in typical British summers and breezy, coastal gardens. Its moderately dense, glossy foliage keeps structures looking dressed year round, while the remontant flowering pattern gives steady colour without complicated pruning regimes. As an own-root plant, it develops steadily into a long-lived, well-anchored climber that fits the natural rhythm of a family garden, moving from root-building to fuller top growth and then to its best ornamental display over several seasons.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| House wall or sunny courtyard façade |
Ideal for training up a warm, south- or west-facing wall, where its dark red clusters show clearly against brick or render and its climbing habit covers bare vertical space with mid-green, glossy foliage. Own-root vigour builds a lasting framework without complicated training, suiting those who want a dependable but not over-vigorous wall rose – busy urban garden owners |
| Arch or entrance arbour in a front garden |
The strong yet manageable canes reach 140–240 cm, making it perfect for a welcoming arch over a path or gate, echoing classic British front-garden style. Repeating flushes of rosette blooms frame entrances attractively through summer, giving impact without demanding intricate pruning skills – front-garden cottage enthusiasts |
| Pergola posts and small courtyard structures |
Its moderate spread allows it to clothe individual pergola posts or compact structures without overwhelming small spaces, while the glossy foliage and clustered flowers create a shaded, intimate feel. The mild fragrance contributes gently without overpowering seating areas, ideal where you want atmosphere with low input – small-space patio gardeners |
| Feature climber in a mixed cottage border |
Deep dark red blooms combine beautifully with traditional cottage companions and ornamental grasses, adding vertical structure behind perennials. The repeat flowering habit brings ongoing colour among shifting border plantings, and own-root resilience means it rebounds well if pruned harder during border refreshes – aesthetics-focused beginners |
| Freestanding pillar or obelisk in a lawn or bed |
Trained around an obelisk or sturdy stake, this climber forms an upright column of colour that punctuates lawns or mixed beds. The balanced height and spread help maintain tidy outlines, supporting a “plant it and it works” approach with only light annual shaping required – low-maintenance family gardeners |
| Small group planting for boundary softening |
Planted in a loose group of 1–3 along a boundary, its regular flowering softens fences or outbuildings while remaining easy to keep within bounds. Own-root plants settle into local soil conditions and anchor firmly over time, providing a stable, wind-tolerant presence even in more exposed, breezy sites – coastal and open-plot owners |
| Large containers on patios or roof terraces |
Suited to cultivation in substantial containers of at least 40–50 litres, where its climbing habit can be supported by trellis without overgrowing the space. Container planting allows good drainage on heavy clay sites while still delivering a classic climbing-rose look close to seating or dining areas – townhouse and balcony gardeners |
| Cut flowers from a garden climbing rose |
The large, very double rosette blooms with 40+ petals and lasting dark red colour make attractive stems for cutting, especially from accessible side shoots. Regular, moderate picking encourages repeat flowering, providing home-grown blooms for simple arrangements without the need for a separate cutting patch – home floristry hobbyists |
Styling ideas
- Classic brick backdrop – Train GRAND AWARD ® against a warm brick wall with underplanting of Carex flacca ‘Blue Zinger’ and low perennials to emphasise the dark red flowers – ideal for owners of traditional terraced or semi-detached homes
- Cottage archway – Cover a timber arch at the garden gate, pairing with soft herbaceous plants such as Coreopsis verticillata to create a welcoming, informal entrance – perfect for cottage-style front gardens
- Courtyard pergola – Use on one side of a compact pergola with Phormium ‘Tom Thumb’ in containers beneath, contrasting the glossy foliage and red blooms with architectural leaves – suited to paved courtyards
- Lawn focal point – Spiral the climber up a metal obelisk rising from a small circular bed edged with low grasses, making a restrained yet striking centrepiece – appealing to those wanting structure without fuss
- Contemporary container – Plant in a 50-litre cube planter with simple groundcover at the base, training onto a flat trellis for an upright accent against fencing – ideal for modern family patios seeking easy elegance
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose from the Courtyard® collection; registered as POUlcy014, marketed as GRAND AWARD ® Courtyard® POUlcy014, with American Rose Society exhibition name Grand Award. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Mogens Nyegaard Olesen for Poulsen Roser A/S, Denmark, from a cross of two unnamed breeder lines; bred in 2001 and introduced internationally after 2014. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated climber with major show success: audience prize at Le Roeulx 2010, gold medals at Monza and Baden-Baden 2011, and multiple special climbing-rose awards in Barcelona 2011. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Large-flowered climber reaching about 140–240 cm high and 80–160 cm spread, with moderately dense, mid-green glossy foliage and moderate prickliness, forming a flexible yet sturdy framework. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms with over 40 petals, carried mainly in clusters; remontant habit providing an abundant second flush after the main early-summer flowering period. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark red blooms with RHS 45A outer and 53C inner tones, maintaining a deep, full red colour with only slight fading; buds and open flowers remain richly coloured until petal fall. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, classic rose fragrance that is noticeable at close quarters but not overpowering, suiting seating areas or entrances where a restrained, traditional rose scent is preferred. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is minimal; when formed, hips are very small at around 0–4 mm diameter and usually of no ornamental or wildlife value in typical garden settings. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA 6b, Swedish zone 3), with good resistance to powdery mildew, resistant to rust and moderate tolerance of black spot in average seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best grown in sunny positions on walls, arches or pergolas at 140–240 cm spacing; moderate maintenance, with plant protection advisable in extremely humid sites and regular feeding for repeat bloom. |
GRAND AWARD ® offers repeat dark red flowering, balanced climbing growth and durable own-root vigour that matures gracefully over the years, making it a thoughtful choice if you seek a long-lived, easy-going garden feature.
