Rosa Harisonii – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL own‑root propagation material
Historic own-root Rosa Harisonii offers a robust shrub framework and bright, once-flowering yellow display that suits premium container production for specialist and collector markets. Its bushy, upright-arched habit and 130–230 cm potential height translate well into 5–7 L finished shrubs for parks, slopes and urban green spaces, while own-root longevity supports long-term specimen and hedge plantings. With good frost resilience aligned to demanding northern UK and Scottish conditions in winter and wind-exposed sites, the cultivar provides predictable structure for landscape and park projects. Medium maintenance needs, moderate disease resistance and good self-cleaning help keep production and aftercare manageable, while semi-double, pollinator-attracting blooms and occasional ornamental hips add extra collection value. Developed as pharmaROSA® NEONATAL tray-rooted cuttings, this material is designed for professional-scale propagation, moving from Year 1 root establishment through Year 2 framework build to full ornamental value from Year 3 onwards. The own-root base supports capacity planning, homogeneous batches and reduced replacement in nursery networks and public-realm supply chains, whilst the historic origin enables specialty positioning in thematic rose gardens and curated ranges.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- 5–7 L Historic Collector Bush – Own-root, bush-trained plants with discreet support, positioned as selection/specialty historic yellow shrubs for retail collectors and thematic rose gardens – target audience/channel: retail/collector specialists.
- Landscape Heritage Hedge Unit – Medium-maintenance, drought-tolerant shrubs in 5–7 L pots for planting as informal hedges and boundaries in parks, slopes and urban green spaces – target audience/channel: landscape contractors and public-realm suppliers.
- Curated Historic Specimen Range – Individually labelled Rosa Harisonii specimens highlighting 1830 origin and hybrid background, supplied in premium containers for show gardens and historic rose collections – target audience/channel: botanic and display gardens.
- Pollinator-Focused Heritage Accent – Once-flowering, semi-double shrubs marketed for their partial pollinator value and strong yellow accent in urban schemes, offered as premium container stock – target audience/channel: municipal and institutional buyers.
- Collection Maintenance Propagation Block – NEONATAL own-root trays grown on as in-house mother plants for long-term, stable cutting supply of this historic cultivar – target audience/channel: wholesale nurseries and integrator networks.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Current trade name Rosa Harisonii, also known as Harison’s Yellow; historic, old garden shrub rose in the Historical rose commercial group, unregistered cultivar with verified authenticity for professional propagation. |
| Origin and breeding |
Hybrid Foetida × Hybrid Spinosissima background from Rosa foetida ‘Persiana’ and Rosa spinosissima; bred by George Folliott Harison in the United States around 1824 and introduced to cultivation circa 1830. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Bushy, upright to arched shrub reaching 130–230 cm in height and spread, moderately dense, matt green-grey foliage and densely thorned shoots; suited to bush training with discreet support in specimen and structural roles. |
| Flower morphology |
Semi-double, cup-shaped flowers with 13–25 petals, medium-sized at approximately 1.5–2.75 inches, borne mainly solitary; not remontant, giving a concentrated main flowering period with good self-cleaning of spent blooms. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Bright, warm sunshine-yellow blooms with saturated tone; ARS code Y, RHS 9A outer and 11B inner; buds deep golden yellow, opening lemon-yellow, fading only slightly and remaining vivid, especially under cooler conditions. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Delicate, elegant fragrance of mild strength, providing a restrained but noticeable scent around flowering shrubs; semi-double open flowers with accessible stamens offer partial pollinator interest during the main flowering phase. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasionally sets small spherical hips 11–19 mm across, turning from green through red to black at maturity; hips contribute some seasonal interest, but overall ornamental value and display impact are considered moderate for this feature. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −34 to −32 °C, rated RHS H7, Swedish Zone 5, USDA 4a; moderate resistance to powdery mildew, black spot and rust, with medium maintenance regime and occasional plant protection generally sufficient. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Recommended for specimen use, hedging, naturalisation, parks, slopes and urban green spaces; prefers bush training with discreet support, medium maintenance inputs, and performs well as a premium, specialty historic shrub in 5–7 L containers. |
Rosa Harisonii as pharmaROSA® NEONATAL own-root material combines historic character, robust shrub structure and good hardiness with predictable, regenerating stands, making it a practical option for aligning capacity and scheduling in specialist and landscape-focused production.
