Rise Up® Lilac Days Climbing Rose

If you've ever wished for a truly blue rose, the Rise Up® Lilac Days Climbing Rose (Rosa x 'ChewLilacdays') is about as close as modern breeding gets. Part of the first-ever climbing rose series from Proven Winners® ColorChoice®, this Chris Warner introduction delivers fully double lilac-blue flowers with an intensely sweet fragrance on nearly thornless canes that are a pleasure to train and handle.

Why You'll Love Rise Up® Lilac Days Climbing Rose

• Rare lilac-blue flower color unlike any other climbing rose on the market
• Intensely fragrant, sweet blooms that carry across the garden
• Nearly thornless canes make training, pruning, and handling easy
• Reblooms continuously from summer through fall without deadheading
• Disease-resistant foliage stays clean and glossy all season
• Versatile habit: train as a climber (5 to 8 feet) or prune as a large shrub

Growing Conditions

Rise Up® Lilac Days is hardy in USDA zones 4-9, giving gardeners across most of the country access to this exceptional climbing rose. Plant in full sun with at least six hours of direct light daily for the deepest flower color and strongest rebloom performance. Moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0 to 7.0) is ideal.

If your soil is heavy clay, work in compost and consider a slightly raised planting area to improve drainage. Good air circulation around the plant promotes healthy foliage and minimizes the fungal issues that plague less resilient rose varieties.

Size and Growth Habit

When trained on a support structure (fence, trellis, arbor, or post), Rise Up® Lilac Days reaches 5 to 8 feet tall. Left unpruned with support, the flexible canes weave upward in a dense column of blooms and glossy dark green foliage. Alternatively, prune it back each spring and it behaves as a large, mounding shrub in the 4 to 5 foot range. Either way, the nearly thornless stems make it one of the most user-friendly climbing roses available.

Landscape Uses and Design Ideas

Train Rise Up® Lilac Days on a garden arbor or entry arch where its fragrance greets visitors at close range. It's equally effective covering a fence line, softening a pergola, or anchoring a mixed border as a large flowering shrub. The unusual lilac-blue color pairs beautifully with warm-toned companions like peach and apricot roses, creating a sophisticated palette that stands apart from the typical red-and-pink rose garden. Plant near seating areas or bedroom windows to enjoy the heady fragrance on warm summer evenings.

Planting and Care Tips

Water deeply at the base once or twice a week during the first growing season while roots establish. Once mature, this rose appreciates consistent moisture but tolerates brief dry spells. Avoid overhead watering to keep foliage dry and healthy.

To train as a climber, guide the long canes onto your support structure and secure them loosely with soft ties. For a shrub habit, prune back by one-third in early spring as new buds emerge to encourage dense branching. Feed with a rose-specific or balanced fertilizer in spring and again in midsummer to fuel the repeat bloom cycle.

Learn more about rose care in our articles on growing roses, disease-resistant varieties, and overwintering your roses.

Rise Up® Lilac Days Climbing Rose is part of the Proven Winners® collection and ships when it's the right time to plant in your zone. Explore our full selection of rose bushes, climbing roses, and fragrant favorites.

Rise Up Lilac Days Climbing Rose makes a thoughtful Mother's Day gift. Browse our Mother's Day flower collection for more spring blooming gift ideas.