Livin' Easy – bedding floribunda rose propagation material (HARwelcome)
Professional own-root production of Livin’ Easy (HARwelcome) offers a reliable bedding floribunda base for nursery networks aiming at uniform, standard container crops for retail and reseller programmes. This compact, bush-trained form with good remontant flowering performance fits 2–3 L lines, while its upright habit and dense, glossy foliage support visually impactful flowerbed and park plantings in public-realm and urban green space schemes, even where winters are cold and windy. Own-root material helps build long-term, renewable stock with low replacement in thematic rose gardens and collection beds, where identity and continuity are critical. Year 1 is about root establishment, Year 2 about stronger shoot development, and by Year 3 the planting reaches full ornamental value, giving growers a predictable crop curve and clear scheduling. The medium maintenance requirement and good self-cleaning capacity integrate well into sustainable large-scale production and project supply.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 2–3 L Retail Bedding Line – Compact, upright, bush-trained plants in 2–3 L standard containers, exploiting dense foliage and self-cleaning clusters for ready-to-plant bedding offers – retail and garden-centre chains
- Park and Urban Edge Series – Repeatedly flowering, medium-maintenance plants for flowerbeds and edging in public-realm projects, built from own-root batches for durable, reliable stands – municipal and contractor frameworks
- Warm Orange Feature Tubs – Heat-tolerant, vivid orange floribundas grown into 40–50 L containers for entrances and plaza plantings, using remontant flowering and upright habit for strong seasonal impact – landscape architects and specifiers
- Harkness Heritage Collection – Curated collection SKU featuring Livin’ Easy with its award history, grown on own roots for long-term thematic and show-garden beds – specialist nurseries and rose collections
- Urban-Ready Patio Rose Line – Medium-maintenance, remontant floribundas in 2–3 L standard pots, using good heat and moderate drought tolerance for balconies and small urban gardens – multiple retailers and e-commerce assortments
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, commercial name Livin' Easy, registered as HARwelcome, exhibition category exhibition floribunda and bedding, ARS exhibition name Livin’ Easy, collection bedding rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by John A. Harkness, United Kingdom, 1988, from cross ‘Southampton’ × ‘Remember Me’; introduced after 1995 via Harkness (UK) and Weeks Roses (USA), registration US PP 9 161 (1995). |
| Awards and recognition |
RNRS Gold Medal 1990, All-America Rose Selections 1996, Portland Gold Medal 1997, RHS Award of Garden Merit 2001, underpinning its reputation for reliable garden and landscape performance. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, compact bush-trained habit with dense, glossy mid-green foliage and moderate prickliness; height about 100–140 cm, spread 80–120 cm, forming substantial, well-filled bedding and container specimens. |
| Flower morphology |
Cluster-flowered, large double blooms (26–39 petals) of cup shape, providing generous flower heads and abundant second flush; remontant habit ensures regular repeat flowering through the main season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Strong warm orange with peachy tint, ARS OB; RHS 28B outer, 28A inner; vivid coppery-toned centres when opening, fading to paler peach-orange and cream; colour holds better in cooler conditions than in high sun. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, slightly sweet fragrance giving a subtle scent without dominating mixed plantings; very double flowers reduce stamen accessibility, so pollinator value is limited and primarily ornamental. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional ovoid red hips produced, around 12–18 mm diameter; ornamental effect is secondary to the main bedding and container role, with hips generally not a dominant feature in plant presentation. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around -26 to -23 °C, RHS H7, Swedish zone 4, USDA 5b; disease resistance moderate overall with black spot resistance noted, and moderate susceptibility to powdery mildew and rust under pressure. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best for flowerbeds, parks, urban green spaces, edging and containers; medium maintenance with occasional pest and disease control; recommended as a bush-trained compact plant for 2–3 L standard containers. |
Livin' Easy (HARwelcome) combines compact upright structure, vivid repeat flowering and robust hardiness on an own-root base that supports predictable, regenerating long-term beds and stock; we would be pleased to discuss volumes, timings and programme fit with you.
