AWAKENING™ – pink climbing rose - Böhm
Awakening™ is a romantic, pale-pink climbing rose that brings a sense of cottage charm to pergolas, arches and sunny house walls, yet stays reassuringly manageable for everyday gardens. Its once-a-year flush of double, rosette blooms arrives in generous clusters, creating a spectacle of soft, pearly colour that lights up your front garden or patio just when you most want a show. The glossy mid‑green foliage and medium maintenance needs suit Irish family gardens, even where soil is heavy and you must pay a little attention to drainage in wetter spells. Own‑root plants settle in steadily, giving you a climbing rose with real longevity and the ability to regenerate from its own base after pruning or weather damage. In the first year it concentrates on roots, in the second year on strong shoots, and by the third year you can expect the full ornamental display that makes this classic sport of ‘New Dawn’ such a favourite for arches, fences and pillars.
Use cases
| Target area |
Reason |
| Front‑garden rose arch over a path |
Ideal for creating a welcoming entrance with a single, dramatic flush of pastel-pink rosette blooms that cover the archway in early summer, offering reliable structure and seasonal impact for beginners |
| Climbing rose on a sunny house wall |
Suitable for training against south or west-facing walls, where its good heat tolerance, moderate drought resistance and glossy foliage deliver a long-lived vertical accent with relatively simple seasonal care for homeowners |
| Pergola or seating area covering |
Works well on pergolas, forming a flowering canopy of soft pink clusters and medium fragrance that brings a romantic atmosphere without needing constant deadheading, suiting relaxed seating areas for families |
| Focal pillar or obelisk in a cottage-style bed |
Its tall, climbing habit and once-off but abundant flowering make it perfect as a pillar rose, giving height and a nostalgic cottage look while the own-root stock promises steady, long-term performance for planners |
| Fence line or informal boundary |
Can be trained along wires on a fence, where regular but simple pruning keeps growth in check and the annual flush of blossom softens boundaries without needing fussy shaping, ideal for neighbours |
| Partially shaded side garden structure |
Tolerates partial shade, so it can lighten up side passages or less sunny corners with its pale blooms, providing dependable cover and interest where many other roses would struggle, suiting practical gardeners |
| Large container with support on a patio or balcony |
When planted in a 40–50 litre container with a sturdy trellis, it becomes a vertical feature for patios or coastal balconies, coping well with breezy conditions and the challenges of wetter, heavier-weather sites for urbanites |
| Mixed planting with clematis or ornamental grasses |
Combines attractively with clematis and fine grasses, its soft pink rosettes and mid-green leaves providing a stable backdrop that lets companion plants shine, while own-root growth keeps the overall composition dependable for stylists |
Decorating ideas
- COTTAGE ARCH – Train Awakening™ over a simple metal or wooden arch and underplant with lavender for a soft, scented tunnel effect – ideal for lovers of romantic country style
- WALL CASCADE – Fan the canes across wires on a sunny wall and add pots of rosemary and thyme below for a relaxed Mediterranean feel – ideal for low-maintenance front gardens
- PERGOLA NOOK – Cover a pergola beside a seating area, pairing the rose with clematis ‘Fairy Slippers’ weaving through for layered blossom – ideal for small family patios
- SOFT FENCE – Run the rose along a boundary fence with Hakonechloa macra and hostas at the base to blend structure and softness – ideal for suburban side gardens
- PILLAR FOCUS – Grow Awakening™ up an obelisk in a mixed border, with hydrangeas and foxgloves nearby to echo its pastel tones – ideal for fans of classic mixed borders
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Registered as Probuzení, marketed as Awakening™ Climbing rose Probuzení; American Rose Society exhibition name Awakening; climber, Hybrid Wichurana, large-flowered climbing rose type. |
| Origin and breeding |
Sport of ‘New Dawn’ bred by Jan Böhm at Böhm Nursery, Blatná, then Czechoslovakia; bred circa 1935, introduced and registered in 1990, initially distributed by Peter Beales Roses. |
| Growth and structure |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 280–420 cm high with 180–320 cm spread; moderately dense, glossy mid‑green foliage; moderately thorny canes; suitable for training on arches, walls and pergolas. |
| Flower morphology |
Bears medium-sized, double rosette flowers, 26–39 petals, in clustered inflorescences; not remontant, giving one main, abundant flowering period that creates strong seasonal impact in the garden. |
| Colour and phenology |
Delicate pastel pink blooms with a slight pearlescent sheen; buds pale pink, opening to soft silvery-pink, fading toward near-white with a cream tint in strong sun; colour retention moderate in warm conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Medium-strength, softly sweet, rose-scented fragrance, clearly noticeable near the plant without being overpowering; primarily an ornamental variety with limited pollinator attraction due to its full, double blooms. |
| Rose hip characteristics |
Rose hip set is minimal because of the double flower form; any hips present are very small, typically 0–3 mm in diameter and of little ornamental or wildlife interest in most garden settings. |
| Resistance and hardiness |
Hardy to about −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); good heat and moderate drought tolerance; resistant to powdery mildew and black spot, moderate susceptibility to rust in humid seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on supports such as pergolas, arches, fences, walls or pillars; medium maintenance with occasional plant protection and deadheading of spent blooms; suitable for partial shade and structured training with regular pruning. |
AWAKENING™ offers a once-a-year curtain of pastel pink, a fragrant vertical accent, and long-term resilience from its own-root growth, making it a thoughtful choice if you would like a dependable climbing rose.
