BELLE DE LONDRES – Compassion climbing rose propagation material
Climbing production with BELLE DE LONDRES / Compassion offers growers a recognisable, AGM‑backed cultivar in a tray‑rooted, own‑root format designed for vertical feature lines and trained‑climber programmes. As pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material, these 3–6‑month‑old own‑root cuttings support stable long‑term stock building, with predictable regeneration after hard pruning and low replacement over time, well suited to UK nursery networks supplying pergola, wall and trellis projects where reliable winter performance in colder and wind‑exposed sites is a priority. The cultivar’s large, exhibition‑type, high‑centred blooms and strong, fruity fragrance underpin premium, space‑defining finished products, while dense, glossy foliage and substantial climbing height enable impactful, space‑structuring offers. NEONATAL rooted cuttings integrate efficiently into staked, trained (3–5 cane) production in 5–7 L and larger containers, including 40–50 L final containers for statement pieces, following the natural development arc where roots establish in year one, structural canes build in year two, and full ornamental impact is realised by year three, supporting exclusive, speciality ranges for retail and reseller partners.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- AGM 5–7 L trained climber – Compassion/BELLE DE LONDRES grown from NEONATAL cuttings into a 5–7 L, 3–5 cane trained climber, highlighting RHS AGM, fragrance and flower size as a vertical feature – target audience/channel: retail / reseller benchmarks.
- 40–50 L pergola specimen – Own-root NEONATAL material stepped through 5–7 L into 40–50 L for fully structured, space-defining climbers with dense foliage and repeat flowering for pergolas – target audience/channel: landscape, public-realm and institutional buyers.
- Heritage climber collection line – Curated Harkness heritage climber, produced from authenticated NEONATAL cuttings and released as trained climber finished products for thematic rose gardens – target audience/channel: collection-focused nurseries and show gardens.
- Fragrant wall feature series – Series of fragrant wall and fence climbers, with Compassion positioned as the richly scented, exhibition-bloom option in 5–7 L trained form – target audience/channel: premium garden centres and specialist retailers.
- Cut-and-climb dual-purpose SKU – Trained climber in 7 L highlighting high-centred, cut-rose type flowers and strong fragrance, suitable for both vertical feature and cutting – target audience/channel: independent nurseries and boutique resellers.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Registered as Compassion, marketed as BELLE DE LONDRES – Compassion climbing rose; ARS exhibition name Compassion; large-flowered climbing rose within the climbing rose commercial group. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Jack L. Harkness, Harkness Roses, Hitchin, United Kingdom; cross of ‘White Cockade’ × ‘Prima Ballerina’; bred, registered and introduced in 1972 in the UK. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, confirming reliable garden performance and ornamental value under UK conditions when grown with appropriate cultural care. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Climbing habit reaching approximately 320–500 cm in height with 160–260 cm spread; dense, dark green glossy foliage (RHS 137A) and densely thorned canes; weak self-cleaning requiring manual removal of spent blooms. |
| Flower morphology |
Extra-large, double flowers (26–39 petals) with high-centred, pointed buds of cut-rose character; blooms produced in clusters of 3–5 per stem; remontant with abundant second flowering under suitable management. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm salmon-pink base with peachy centre and faint outer pink blush; buds deep peach-pink; colour lightens with age and strong sun, often to pastel pink and creamy tones; overall pink classification per ARS and RHS 36D/36A codes. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, rich, fruity fragrance with a distinctive scented-rose character; mainly ornamental, with limited pollinator access due to double flower form partially obscuring stamens and nectar sources. |
| Hip characteristics |
Moderate production of ovoid, egg-shaped hips, approximately 14–22 mm in diameter; orange-red colour developing after flowering, adding a secondary seasonal feature in suitable maintenance regimes. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (USDA 5b, RHS H7, Swedish zone 4); medium heat and drought tolerance, needs regular watering in prolonged dry periods; disease-sensitive, with moderate powdery mildew and black spot, and very sensitive rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best used on walls, fences, pergolas, trellises and as a cut-flower capable climber; requires high maintenance with regular plant protection; recommended as staked, trained 3–5 cane climber in 5–7 L and larger containers for premium vertical features. |
BELLE DE LONDRES / Compassion offers growers a recognisable AGM climber combining strong fragrance, large exhibition blooms and long-lived own-root reliability for predictable vertical-feature production; we would welcome a discussion on scheduling and volumes.
