PlantFiles: Large-flowered Climbing Rose
Rosa 'New Dawn'

In viewing the photos of this plant I realized it is the rose I grew up with. Some years after my family moved from that house it burned. The rose grow naturally and had an orange blossom poking out here & there. I used to go back there just to see it. The two together were outstanding, both to see and smell. I never new the name, but have always wanted that rose for my garden. Many thanks to Dave's Garden an the people who have shared.

I read a lot of people writing that New Dawn is not re-blooming, but it only means that you've got a rose that was wrong cultivated. I will try to translate what my rose encyclopedia has to say about this phenomenon regarding New Dawn specifically (it's originally in Dutch):

'Unfortunately there are New Dawn roses on the market that are only once blooming. Growers used the buds on the long, fast growing stems for propagation, without knowing that the method used here would produce once blooming New dawn. If you have bought these plants there is nothing you can do to make a rose re-bloom. The only way to get more flowering is to buy new rose from a reputable rose seller.'

This rose really is a fantastic re-bloomer, and it's a shame that shops are still selling wrongly cultivated specimens. Hope this information will help someone.

Lovely rose, once-bloomer, occasional later bloom, but vicious thorns. Be sure this one is out of reach!

I planted a small one-year-old plant last spring at the south-facing base of a new arbor I built, and by the end of the season three canes had grown more than 8 feet, while a couple of side canes grew about 5-6 feet. Didn't have any flowers though. I'm hoping this year I'll see my first roses. If it continues the same pace of growth, it should almost span the top of the arbor in its second year in the ground. I had planted a couple other climbers at the same time, and ND by far grew faster with more canes. Sometimes there'd be a couple inches of new growth every couple days! It did get black spot as winter set in, but BS tends to show up on several plants in my garden around November.

I planted a bare root New Dawn here in OKC five years ago and have loved it ever since. Very hardy and disease free. I was shocked the third year when it outgrew its arbor (black painted hog wire paneling in an "L" shape over a gateway in the side yard) and stretched itself lazily across our roof AND the roof of the neighbor's house! Astounding sight for anyone flying over in a helicopter, I'm sure! I climb up on the roof every other year in full battle gear to prune it back a bit. Mine will rebloom if it gets a little cool, cloudy weather during the summer and fall. A great frame for a Blue Ravine clematis that is scrambling up through it and blooming very nicely.

The 'New Dawn' Roses that we have in our gardens are at least 60 years old. My husband grew up in the house we know own. HIs father told us they were here already when he moved in, in 1950. When we first moved in they were growing up over the porch roof (covering it) and almost covering the roof of the kitchen as well. Unfortunately, we had to cut them back 10 years ago to repair the kitchen roof and remove the porch roof to add a deck. They have come back and are still growing strong. I say these roses grow 20 feet, defiantly! They have no bug or disease problem what so ever. I prune out dead wood in early spring. They cover my 5 ft fence by the deck plus 2 ft above and I am going to have to add some type of support over the deck if I want to let them keep growing.
When in full bloom it is just breath taking.
The only problem I see with this rose is that once it has bloomed, that's it. Blooms for about 2-3 weeks starting late May into early June. Even with the one time bloom only, I love this rose. I just wish I knew how old it truly is.

This rose blooms one time a year and then will not bloom again until the next year. My great aunt had this in her yard and I was allowed to get a small one from the many she had. I love this rose!

This rose is very pretty. When I moved to my home, someone else had already planted several dozen bushes. Clearly they like this rose. Me, with my wholey limited experience with roses, did nothing to care for them, and yet they've grown beautifully with absolutely no effort on my part.

But I have noticed, that they bloom (lots) for about two weeks, and then they don't bloom anymore.

They are growing under giant oak trees, so maybe that's why, but just wanted to check. Over the last couple of years, we have tried pruning, fertilizing, & dead heading, but the plants behave just the same. They don't seem to care if they're cared for, but they still won't bloom any longer than a couple of weeks.

Is there any hope? I've seen others describe this rose as a repeat bloomer, but ours definitely aren't.

Reliably heavy blooms in June tho' I've not seen any significant reblooming. It's on an arbor near our deck where the light pink blooms are especially lovely in the evening light. As an added attraction, it provides a safe haven for nesting birds, so we usually have quite a show for summer suppers on the deck. Aside from thrips the first year it was planted it's had no pest or disease problems.

If you are planning on growing this climber, you will need a good support system to hold it. It will take over your arbor. Currently, early May, I have over 300+, possibly 400+ buds on the plant. It will bloom continously through the summer. Doesn't seem to mind the heat.

This rose was only added to my garden this year in late April. Considering this has been one of the driest springs on record it has done remarkably well! I might add the heat has been blistering hot throught May and into June. In spite of this it has managed to establish itself, grow fairly well, and most important bloom. Looks like a winner all the way around; therefore a positive rating!

On HGTV.com's list of Care Free roses by Mary C. Weaver:
'New Dawn': If you've oohed and aahed at photographs of pale pink roses clambering romantically over white trellises, chances are good you've seen 'New Dawn'. A large-flowered climber introduced in 1930, it produces a generous supply of medium-sized, cupped, double soft-pink flowers that fade to soft white. The plant is a repeat-blooming sport of 'Dr. W. Van Fleet', although in hot climates flowering will slow or stop at the height of summer. Blooms have a light apple fragrance and an old-fashioned, cottagey look. The plant bears large prickles and dark-green glossy foliage with very good disease-resistance. It can tolerate some shade and perform well with 4 to 5 hours of daily sun. 'New Dawn' was named World's Favorite Rose in 1997. Hardy to Zone 4 or 5. Reaches 12 to 20 feet in height.

I like this rose. It grows like a weed and is very hardy in zone 5 with no die-back. The blooms are a lovely color and have a nice, altho light, fragrance. Be sure to give this one lots of space.

New Dawn starts flowering late spring/early summer and continues untill frosts gets it. Of course it has one big flush of flowers, but when you deadhead and give it a little summer prune...it produces new buds over and over again. I even have ..a few though..flowers during winter.
Flowers have a slight fragnance. This rosa has also very mean thorns ...for me it 's impossible to get close to it without deep scratches and pricks..so beware if you like to plant it in a yard where little children play. It needs regular hard pruning to flower abundant.

I have the same problem another gardener did - Wonderful blooms, but only one time. I am in the NC foothills - 7b. I have let it go to see if that will help but it is now becoming a menace to man and beasst as it loads down the arbor at the garden entrance.

How do I prune this monster?

My "New Dawn" climbing roses are rambunctious and beautiful, but only bloom once, in spite of descriptions in ads of "repeat blooming". I''ve tried pruning down to just above a five-leaf stem and also just nipping off the dead blooms, but neither works. Any suggestions, or should these really just be considered once-blooming roses (at least near Detroit). Lucille N.

This is one of my favorite roses! Easy to care for and prolific when it blooms, plus it is almost completely 'bug free' (Japanese beetles here in NJ will attack ANYTHING!). It does have a slight tendency towards blackspot but not as much as other roses.

The delicate-looking, fragrant and bountiful blooms of this rose make it an exquisite addition to any garden. I actually have two bushes - one in full sun and one in partial shade. Both do incredibly well with little to no pruning. (I do cut bunches of blooms for vases). I would rate this as one of the best roses I've ever grown.

This is my second favourite rose, the first, being Madame Alfred Carriere. As this is the first patented rose in North America, I am pleased to be growing five of them. The unique fragrance and the output of delicate blush-pink blooms makes her a "#1" in my books.....Elaine

This plant found at a charity sale for $2, has exceeded any expectations. A repeat bloomer, texture of the petals is very sensuous,like real satin.Softly fragrant. Glossy, healthy leaves. Thorny! easily trained . disease and pest resistant in my climate SW BC. A piece was broken when I got it home so I dipped it in a little rooting powder last year and it is just getting ready to bloom with 2 buds now. I would recommend this rose, as fast grower, easy-care, "a Happy Rosa!"

New dawn is only faintly scented and the flowers loose that pink colour when in bloom. Also it is growing extremely quickly and as I trained it over a garden arch I always have to keep it in shape.

New Dawn is a plant worthy of any garden. I would class it as a rambler/climber, its stems are lax and easily trained. The pale pink blooms are scented and appear in clusters in mid-summer. Height is around 12ft.

1930 12-20' Fragrant Zone 5-9
Climbing Rose
Beautiful pale pink 3" semi-double blossoms upon dark green foliage. Repeat blooms even in summer with large flushes in late spring and fall. Wonderful along a fence or trained over an archway.