GRAND AWARD ® – dark red climbing rose – Olesen
Let GRAND AWARD ® bring a touch of storybook romance to your garden, its dark red, very double blooms creating a richly textured backdrop for afternoon tea beneath an arbour or pergola. Bred for dependable performance, this Courtyard® climber repeats its flowering generously, clothing fences, walls and arches with clusters of classic rosette blooms through summer and into autumn. On its own roots it develops steadily, building a long-lived, resilient framework with a capacity to regenerate from the base and keep a stable ornamental display year after year. In typical UK family gardens, it copes reliably even where breezy sites bring regular wind and rain, provided the soil is well prepared and drains freely. Its mid-green, glossy foliage sets off the deep red flowers beautifully, while moderate thorniness gives useful structure without being unmanageable. For smaller plots or rented homes, it can be trained in a large 40–50 litre container, giving you vertical colour without sacrificing precious ground space, and rewarding even minimal maintenance with a lush, traditional cottage-garden feel.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Family pergola or arbour seating area |
Ideal for framing a seating nook with romantic, afternoon-tea ambience; its repeat-flowering habit keeps arches clothed in deep red rosettes for much of the season, building density each year for those wanting an easy, classic focal point for beginners |
| House wall or sunny garage façade |
Trains neatly on wires or trellis, using its medium height and moderate spread to soften brickwork without overwhelming smaller houses, while the long-lived own-root framework offers a reliable, low-fuss investment for homeowners |
| Small to medium cottage-style front garden |
Provides vertical interest without taking much footprint, letting you underplant with herbs or cottage perennials while its dark red flowers deliver that traditional, storybook look sought by lovers of romantic cottage style gardeners |
| Raised beds over heavier or clay-based soils |
Well suited to raised or improved beds where drainage can be managed carefully on heavier ground, supporting a strong root system and steady top growth that keeps its ornamental value stable for clay-gardeners |
| Large decorative container on patio or balcony |
Performs well in a 40–50 litre pot with regular watering, making it practical for renters or small gardens; the contained root zone and flexible pruning keep size in check while still giving abundant blooms for urban-owners |
| Kitchen-garden edge or potager gateway |
Marks entrances and gateways with an inviting arch of colour, its classic rose form pairing beautifully with vegetables and herbs, and its measured vigour allowing simple tying-in rather than complex pruning for busy-families |
| Coastal or more exposed suburban plots |
Suited to sites where steady breezes and regular showers are common, giving you dependable flowering and tidy growth in everyday British weather without extensive cosseting, particularly attractive for low-input households |
| Cutting for indoor arrangements from a garden climber |
Produces long, florist-worthy stems with full, rosette blooms in a deep red tone, ensuring that established plants in years two and three give both garden impact and vases of flowers for those who enjoy informal home arrangements enthusiasts |
Styling ideas
- Tea-Arbour Elegance – Train GRAND AWARD ® over a simple wooden arbour with gravel or brick paving beneath, add a small bistro set and lavender in pots – ideal for couples or small families wanting a romantic retreat.
- Cottage Front Frame – Use it either side of a front door on trellis, underplant with catmint and geraniums, and keep pruning light for soft, cascading blooms – suited to homeowners seeking a traditional cottage welcome.
- Kitchen-Garden Arch – Place a metal arch between veg beds, plant this rose at each side and mix with sweet peas or runner beans – perfect for those blending productive plots with ornamental charm.
- Patio Statement Pot – Grow in a 50 litre half-barrel with thyme and creeping campanula at the base, training canes into a fan against a sunny wall – good for balcony or courtyard gardeners with limited soil.
- Coastal Courtyard Screen – Use as a living screen on wires along a boundary, combining with hardy grasses and sedums for movement and texture – tailored to gardeners in breezier, exposed suburban or seaside locations.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Courtyard® climbing rose, registered as POUlcy014, marketed as GRAND AWARD ® Courtyard®; large-flowered climber and exhibition climbing rose with American Rose Society name Grand Award. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Mogens Nyegaard Olesen, Poulsen Roser A/S, Denmark, from two unnamed parents; bred 2001, registered 2014 with US Plant Patent PP 24 695, introduced commercially after 2014. |
| Awards and recognition |
Highly decorated show climber: Le Roeulx “Most Beautiful Rose” audience award 2010; Monza and Baden-Baden gold medals 2011; multiple Barcelona and Belfast awards, including Best climbing rose titles. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Medium climber, 140–240 cm high and 80–160 cm spread, with climbing habit, moderately dense, glossy mid-green foliage and moderate prickliness, suitable for walls, arches and pergolas in family gardens. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, very double rosette blooms, 40+ petals, borne mostly in clusters; remontant with abundant second flush, flower size typically 2.75–3.95 inches, providing a full, traditional rose appearance. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark red flowers with ARS code dr; outer petals RHS 45A, inner 53C; deep crimson buds, colour fades only slightly, remaining uniformly deep red from opening through full bloom with moderate retention. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Classic, rose-like scent of mild strength, noticeable at close range but not overpowering near seating areas; fully double flowers moderately attract pollinators compared with more open flower forms. |
| Hip characteristics |
Rose hip formation is rare; if present, hips are very small, typically 0–5 mm in diameter and not significant for ornamental or wildlife purposes in most garden situations. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately –21 to –18 °C (RHS H7, Swedish Zone 3, USDA 6b); generally resistant to powdery mildew and rust, with moderate susceptibility to black spot in very humid conditions. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions with well-drained soil; spacing 140–240 cm depending on use, planting density 0.4–0.5 plants/m²; moderate maintenance, with plant protection useful in extremely humid climates. |
GRAND AWARD ® Courtyard® offers repeat dark red flowering, flexible training for arches or walls, and a durable own-root habit that suits long-term, low-fuss gardens; consider it where you want lasting romantic structure with manageable care.
