BELLE DE LONDRES – pink climbing rose – Harkness
Imagine returning from a breezy coastal walk to enjoy tea in a sheltered corner, framed by the soft, warm blooms of BELLE DE LONDRES: an own-root climbing rose chosen for longevity, reliable flowering and a naturally romantic look that flatters shingle, veranda and cottage-style gardens alike. Its glossy dark foliage and richly scented, salmon-pink flowers create a backdrop that helps your seating area feel more private, while the sturdy frame and deep roots offer reassuring anchoring even where strong coastal winds and driving rain regularly sweep across the garden. In a large 40–50 litre container or trained on a fence, its fragrance and generous flower size bring a sense of occasion to everyday family life, yet in year one it concentrates on roots, year two on stronger shoots, and by year three it settles into full character with dependable structure and ornamental endurance for years of relaxed enjoyment.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| Sunny coastal veranda windbreak |
Trained on trellis or wires, this tall climber creates a living partition that softens salty breezes without feeling heavy, giving you a more comfortable seating space for reading or evening drinks on exposed verandas for the busy coastal homeowner. |
| Wall or fence near the seating area |
Large, double, salmon-pink blooms appear in generous clusters, repeating through the season so there is always something to admire from the patio table, supporting that sense of refreshment after a day out for the family garden user. |
| Fragrant arch by the back door |
With a strong, fruity scent, BELLE DE LONDRES turns everyday routes in and out of the house into small moments of pleasure, especially in the still air of a sheltered archway for the scent-loving beginner. |
| Own-root feature in a large container |
In a 40–50 litre pot, its own-root habit builds a durable framework that reshoots well after pruning or weather damage, so the plant ages gracefully and is easier to renew over time for the low-maintenance gardener. |
| Long-term structure on a pergola |
Once established, the woody framework gives lasting shape, so you can rely on it year after year as a structural element without replanting, suiting slow, thoughtful garden development for the long-view planner. |
| Partial-shade house wall |
Happy with some shade during the day, it suits typical UK house walls where sun moves round, allowing you to green up awkward aspects that many roses dislike for the space-limited homeowner. |
| Clay soil coastal-style border |
Given sensible drainage, its deepening root system helps anchor it steadily even in heavier soils where winds are frequent, reducing worry about rocking or leaning in blustery weather for the coastal-style enthusiast. |
| Cut flowers for indoor vases |
High‑centred, exhibition-style blooms on long stems cut well for the house, so a single garden plant can also supply vases of classic, warm pink roses through the season for the home flower arranger. |
Styling ideas
- Shingle-veranda calm – Plant BELLE DE LONDRES in a 50 litre container with silver-blue Festuca and sea kale nearby to echo a Cornish beach palette – ideal for coastal-style veranda owners.
- Romantic archway – Train the rose over a simple metal arch, underplanting with soft pink Gaillardia and pale lavender for a scented walkway – suited to cottage-garden admirers.
- Structured windbreak – Use a pair on posts with taut wires to form a floral screen, combining with dwarf Heuchera at the base for neat ground cover – for practical yet style-conscious households.
- Courtyard focal point – In a large clay pot, let it climb a slim obelisk, surrounded by pale gravel and a bistro set for a compact but elegant seating nook – perfect for small urban gardens.
- Soft privacy fence – Space plants along a boundary and mix through evergreen cherry laurel for year-round cover, with BELLE DE LONDRES adding seasonal colour and scent – for families seeking gentle seclusion.
Technical cultivar profile
| Feature | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose ‘Compassion’ (trade name BELLE DE LONDRES), large-flowered climber registered with the American Rose Society under the exhibition name ‘Compassion’ for show and garden use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Jack L. Harkness, Harkness Roses, Hitchin, United Kingdom, from the cross ‘White Cockade’ × ‘Prima Ballerina’; introduced and registered in 1972, now a classic British climbing rose. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, confirming reliable garden performance and ornamental value when grown under normal conditions with appropriate care and maintenance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit reaching about 3.2–5 m high and 1.6–2.6 m wide, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and plentiful thorns; forms a strong, woody framework when correctly tied and pruned. |
| Flower morphology |
Large, double, high-centred blooms with 26–39 petals, often 3–5 per stem; exhibition-style pointed buds open in waves, with an abundant second flush providing reliable repeat flowering in season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm salmon-pink with a peachy centre, ARS pink blend; buds deep peach-pink, blooms lighten to pastel and sometimes creamy tones in strong sun, giving a softly varied colour effect over time. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Rich, strong, fruity rose fragrance, noticeable around the plant in still air; primarily ornamental but also valued for scented cut stems brought indoors for arrangements and table decoration. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate numbers of ovoid orange-red hips, around 14–22 mm in diameter; decorative in late season but not usually the primary reason for choosing this climbing rose. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); disease resistance moderate to weak, needing regular protection, particularly against rust and black spot in damp seasons. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on walls, fences, arches or pergolas in fertile, well-drained soil; allow 1.5–3 m spacing. Needs tying in and pruning plus routine plant protection; suitable for partial shade and sheltered coastal gardens. |
BELLE DE LONDRES – Compassion offers long-season flowering, rich fragrance and enduring own-root structure, rewarding patient establishment with many years of relaxed coastal or family-garden enjoyment, so it is well worth considering for your outdoor space.
