DRACO – red climbing rose – Noack
Let Draco bring a curtain of velvety red blooms to your wall, fence or arch, creating an effortlessly romantic, “girly” cottage-garden feel in even the smallest Dublin front garden. This large-flowered climber covers itself in generous clusters from early summer, then repeats with a strong second flush so your outdoor space keeps its cheerful colour for months, even when days are short and the light is soft. Grown on its own roots, it settles in steadily and, with simple care, rewards you with a long-lived, reliable display rather than complicated chores. Its glossy medium-green foliage gives a calm, leafy backdrop, while the mild, rosy fragrance adds just a hint of perfume without overwhelming small spaces. Planted into improved clay with good drainage, Draco copes well with breezy, damp Irish weather and still delivers that uplifting sense of contentment you get from a quick walk through the garden on a light showery day, when the dark red flowers glow against the green leaves. Over the first few seasons it builds a lasting framework – strong shoots, maturing roots, and increasing bloom – so it becomes a dependable, easy-care feature in your family garden.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Cottage-style front garden arch |
Very double, cup-shaped, velvety red blooms repeat well, giving a romantic, welcoming arch over a gate or narrow path without needing constant deadheading thanks to good self-cleaning. Ideal for fragrance-loving beginners. |
| Climbing rose for walls and fences |
Climbing habit to around 2–3 m with dense, glossy foliage makes an excellent vertical screen on a sunny south or west-facing wall, turning plain boundaries into a long-flowering feature. Well suited to busy homeowners. |
| Pergola or arbour in family gardens |
Healthy, moderately thorny canes and abundant clusters of large flowers create a shaded, flower-framed seating area that feels intimate yet easy to manage with occasional pruning. A good choice for relaxed hobby-gardeners. |
| Specimen climber in small urban gardens |
With rich ruby-red flowers and a restrained, rosy fragrance, Draco delivers strong visual impact and gentle scent in compact spaces without overwhelming nearby windows or neighbours. Perfect for space-conscious city-dwellers. |
| Clay soil family garden borders |
Performs reliably in improved heavy clay where drainage is enhanced with grit and mulch, suiting many Irish family plots that are wet in winter yet dry in summer. Practical for weather-aware gardeners. |
| Long-term structure for young gardens |
Own-root plants establish steadily, building roots in year one, framework and flowering in year two, then full ornamental value by year three, with good regeneration if canes are damaged. Reassuring for long-term-planning buyers. |
| Low-maintenance flowering screen |
Moderate disease resistance and self-cleaning flowers mean only occasional checks and light tidy-up are needed to keep the plant attractive, even in humid, showery weather with frequent soft rain. Suitable for time-poor families. |
| Large container on terrace or patio |
Can be grown in a 40–50 litre or larger container with a sturdy support, giving renters or terrace owners a movable column of red bloom and glossy foliage, provided watering and feeding are regular. Ideal for flexible-living tenants. |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Arch Romance – Train Draco over a metal or wooden arch and underplant with soft pink hardy geraniums to enhance its velvety red clusters – for lovers of traditional cottage charm.
- Ruby-Green Contrast – Let its dark red blooms climb against evergreen ivy, using Hedera helix as a permanent green backdrop so the flowers seem to float – ideal for low-fuss boundary screens.
- Terraced-Front Welcome – In a narrow Dublin front garden, grow Draco on a fence with lavender at its feet to combine gentle scent, structure and colour – suited to busy urban households.
- Evening-Pergola Glow – Pair Draco on a pergola post with white climbing clematis so the red and white flowers mingle and remain visible in low evening light – perfect for outdoor-dining areas.
- Bold-Park Accent – Use Draco as a specimen climber with Cotinus ‘Royal Purple’ nearby; the burgundy foliage and red flowers create a rich, dramatic focal point – for confident colour enthusiasts.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Large-flowered climbing rose, registered as NOA92199, marketed as Draco – red climbing rose – Noack, also known on the show bench as Belkanto in the exhibition climbing rose category. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Werner Noack, Noack Rosen, Gütersloh, Germany, with unknown parentage; introduced and registered in 2004, representing Noack’s emphasis on ornamental performance and garden reliability. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit to about 200–320 cm high and 120–200 cm wide, with moderately thorny canes and dense, glossy, medium-green foliage providing strong vertical structure and screening. |
| Flower morphology |
Very double, cup-shaped blooms with over 40 petals, typically 7–10 cm across, borne in clusters, repeating well to give an abundant second flush after the main early summer flowering period. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Dark, velvety red flowers: buds deep crimson, freshly opened blooms rich scarlet, then muted burgundy at full bloom; RHS 53A outer and 53B inner zones, with colour that lightens only slightly in strong sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Delicate, classically rosy fragrance of mild strength, noticeable at close range without dominating nearby seating areas, making it suitable for entrances, paths and compact outdoor living spaces. |
| Hip characteristics |
Hip set is generally sparse due to very double flowers; when present, small spherical red hips about 8–13 mm in diameter can appear, adding occasional seasonal interest in late season. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −21 to −18 °C (USDA 6b, RHS H7), with moderate resistance to black spot, powdery mildew and rust; performs best with regular watering during dry spells and basic hygiene. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Prefers sunny sites with fertile, well-drained soil; space 140–250 cm depending on use, with 0.4–0.5 plants per m² in mass planting; suitable for arches, pergolas, walls, fences, arbours and specimen use. |
DRACO – red climbing rose – Noack offers velvety repeat-flowering displays, glossy foliage and long-term own-root resilience, making it a thoughtful choice if you would like a dependable, low-fuss climbing feature.
