DAME DE MONTSOREAU – pink climbing rose – Warner
Think of a sheltered evening walk under raindrops, where clusters of soft pink blooms catch the gentle light and a fresh, fruity fragrance drifts along a cottage-garden path. Dame de Montsoreau is a large-flowered climbing rose that repeats in generous waves from early summer, giving your front or back garden a romantic, “girly” charm even when our Irish summers are short and skies are changeable with brisk, salty breezes from the Atlantic. Semi-double, cupped flowers open bright mid-pink, then fade through silvery pastel tones, while own-root plants settle steadily, building reliable growth and ornamental value year after year. Planted in good drainage and mulched, it is an inviting choice for pergolas, arbours and Dublin terrace walls.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front-garden arch or arbour in a small city garden |
Dame de Montsoreau’s medium-sized, semi-double blooms and fruity scent create a welcoming, romantic entrance on an arch or arbour without overwhelming a narrow front space. Train the flexible canes along a simple metal or timber frame for a soft, cascading effect that feels refined yet relaxed for the urban beginner. |
| Irish cottage-garden pergola with seating beneath |
Repeated flushes of mid- to soft-pink flowers bring colour in waves through the season, ideal for a pergola where you sit and enjoy the fresh fragrance at eye and head height. Good own-root stamina means the framework fills gradually and then holds its character over many years, suiting the traditional cottage gardener. |
| Warm, sunny south- or west-facing house wall |
This climber thrives where it can bask on a sunny wall with decent air flow, helping manage disease-prone foliage while rewarding you with rich colour that softens brick or render. Over time, an own-root plant forms a stable, regenerating base, reassuring the low-maintenance homeowner. |
| Climbing feature on a garden fence or boundary |
With a height of around 2.5–3.5 m and moderate spread, it is well-suited to greening up a plain fence, giving privacy and a sense of enclosure without feeling heavy. Recurrent flowering and glossy foliage frame the boundary in a gentle way that appeals to the family-garden owner. |
| Planted by a path or terrace for fragrance |
The medium, noticeably fruity fragrance is best appreciated close up, so position it where you pass daily or sit nearby. Semi-double flowers are partly open, offering some interest for insects while still looking classically decorative, making it a charming choice for the fragrance-lover. |
| Large container on balcony, terrace or paved yard |
In a 40–50 litre or larger container with free-draining compost, Dame de Montsoreau can be trained up a slim obelisk or wall trellis, bringing vertical colour where soil is limited. Own-root growth helps it bounce back if top growth is knocked by weather, suiting the busy balcony gardener. |
| Mixed border with perennials for soft, romantic styling |
Its mid-pink, fading to pastel and almost white, pairs effortlessly with airy perennials and low groundcovers, weaving a cottage look into a typical family border. The long flowering period means the rose anchors the scheme in summer, a reliable backdrop for the colour-conscious planner. |
| Informal wildlife-tinged corner with hips and seasonal change |
Moderately abundant orange-red hips after flowering add autumn interest and a light wildlife feel, extending value beyond summer and echoing that gentle seaside garden look when breezes are cool and moist from the nearby ocean. This suits the nature-oriented gardener. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-arch romance – Train Dame de Montsoreau over a simple wooden arch with underplanting of evergreen candytuft and low Sedum spurium to keep the base green and tidy – ideal for lovers of informal front entrances.
- Pastel pergola walk – Combine this climber with soft blue English bluebeard and pale geraniums along a pergola, so repeating pink waves are cooled by blues and greens – for those who enjoy gentle evening garden strolls.
- Courtyard climber – In a sunny, paved Dublin courtyard, grow it in a 50-litre pot against a warm wall, with gravel mulch and a slim trellis – perfect for urban householders with no open soil.
- Family fence softener – Let it scramble along a boundary fence, interplanted with hardy shrubs, so flowers and glossy foliage soften hard lines while hips add autumn colour – suited to practical family gardens.
- Seating-nook screen – Create a scented privacy screen beside a bench by training canes on tall posts and wires, with shade-tolerant groundcovers beneath – appealing to anyone wanting a quiet, sheltered reading spot outdoors.
Technical cultivar profile
| Characteristic |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Large-flowered climbing rose; registered as CHEwcorpink, trade name Dame de Montsoreau Climbing rose CHEwcorpink; exhibition name Alfresco; in the Rós dreapadó commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Christopher H. Warner in the United Kingdom from ‘Mary Sumner’ × ‘Summer Wine’; registered 2000, introduced 2001 by Warner’s Roses in the UK and now supplied own-root. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 225–375 cm high and 110–190 cm wide, with moderately dense, glossy medium-green foliage and moderate prickliness suitable for training on supports. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cupped, cluster-flowered blooms with 13–25 petals and large 7–10 cm diameter heads; remontant, with a notably abundant second flush across the season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Mid-pink flowers with delicate salmon undertone; ARS PB, RHS 65C outer and 65D inner; colour fades to pastel, often almost white, with a soft silvery shimmer at the edges in full bloom. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Fresh, fruity fragrance of medium strength, clearly noticeable at close range around seating areas or along paths, adding sensory appeal in both traditional cottage and contemporary gardens. |
| Hip characteristics |
Moderately abundant spherical orange-red hips, around 14–22 mm in diameter, forming after flowering and adding decorative seasonal interest into late summer and early autumn. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Very susceptible to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, so regular plant protection is advised; winter hardy to about −21 to −18 °C (RHS H7, USDA zone 6b, Swedish zone 3). |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny, well-drained soil with sturdy support; space 140–240 cm depending on use; prefers good air movement; in containers use at least 40–50 litres and maintain consistent watering. |
Dame de Montsoreau Climbing rose CHEwcorpink offers repeat pink flowering, medium fruity fragrance and attractive hips on a long-lived own-root climber, making it a thoughtful, enduring choice for your garden structure.
