Stellerit Hybrid tea rose HARrowbond – pharmaROSA® NEONATAL propagation material
Exclusive own-root pharmaROSA® NEONATAL material of Stellerit HARrowbond gives professional growers a stable base for premium hybrid tea cut-flower and exhibition production, aligning with exclusive finished product positioning and retail or reseller channels. The strong, upright framework with 3–5 canes and moderately dense, glossy foliage supports tray-to-5–7 L container programmes where predictable structure and flower presentation matter. Large, uniform, cup-shaped blooms in a warm orange palette with a delicate peach sheen deliver the flower quality and form this cultivar is known for, while the strong, long-lasting, fresh citrusy fragrance underpins high-value cut-stem and display sales. Own-root production allows renewable growth, long lifespan and low replacement rates, ideal where homogeneous stands and predictable capacity are required for thematic rose collections and show gardens. With RHS H7 hardiness and black spot resistance, it provides dependable performance even in cooler, exposed UK sites, supporting projects that experience colder, windier seasons typical of northern areas. From year 1 root establishment through year 2 structural build-up to year 3 full ornamental value, it slots cleanly into planned nursery crop cycles and supports wholesale-scale supply. Moderate maintenance needs and manageable disease profile allow integration into professional protection programmes without excessive intervention.
Usage options
Finished-product ideas
- Premium 5–7 L exhibition hybrid tea – bush-trained plants in 5–7 L containers highlighting upright framework, warm orange blooms and strong fragrance; suited to exclusive finished product benches in retail and reseller channels.
- Fragrance award cut-flower line – cut-stem production focused on uniform solitary blooms and long-lasting citrus fragrance, building on remontant flowering; targeted at specialist florists and premium wholesale cut-flower buyers.
- Thematic orange-collection container rose – 5–7 L colour-collection SKU using the warm orange/peach play for curated displays; positioned for garden centres developing branded thematic rose garden concepts.
- Hardy show-garden specimen in 40–50 L tubs – larger-container plants exploiting H7 hardiness and stable framework for show gardens and institutional entries; aimed at public-realm suppliers and project-based nursery networks.
- Own-root stock for rose collections – NEONATAL blocks maintained for long-term cultivar collections with reliable form and fragrance; intended for nurseries building supply for thematic rose gardens and specialist retail assortments.
Technical cultivar profile
| Parameter |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Hybrid tea rose with registered name HARrowbond, marketed as Stellerit Hybrid tea rose HARrowbond and known in exhibition circles as Rosemary Harkness; commercial type and group both classified as hybrid tea rose. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Jack Harkness at R. Harkness & Co. Ltd. in Hitchin, United Kingdom, from ‘Compassion’ × (‘Basildon Bond’ × ‘Grandpa Dickson’); introduced and registered in 1985 by the same company. |
| Awards and recognition |
Recognised with Belfast Gold Medal for Best large-flowered tea hybrid and for fragrance in 1987, Glasgow Tollcross Fragrance Award in 1991, and Best Floribunda at Hamilton New Zealand Rose Trials in 1995. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright bush habit reaching about 95–125 cm in height and 75–105 cm spread, with moderately dense, glossy dark green foliage and moderate prickliness; self-cleaning is weak so spent blooms require manual removal. |
| Flower morphology |
Medium-sized, double, cup-shaped hybrid tea flowers with approximately 26–39 petals, mainly solitary on stems; remontant repeat flowering delivers a notable second flush, supporting extended ornamental and cutting windows. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm orange blooms with peach sheen; buds orange-pink with yellowish tones, opening to vivid orange centres and softer outer petals, fading paler in strong sun but remaining more vivid in cooler conditions; ARS OB, RHS 28B outer, 30B inner. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, long-lasting fragrance with a fresh, citrusy character; double-flowered form gives partial pollinator appeal, with stamens only moderately accessible so pollinator visitation is present but not intense. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate numbers of ovoid hips, approximately 10–14 mm in diameter, coloured red; hips can add seasonal interest in less deadheaded production or collection plantings. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Rated RHS H7 and suitable for USDA zone 5b and Swedish zone 4, tolerating around -26 to -23 °C; disease resistance is moderate overall, with resistance to black spot and moderate susceptibility to powdery mildew and rust. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Suited to flower beds, containers and cut-flower use; recommended as bush-trained with 3–5 strong framework canes, medium maintenance requirements and occasional plant protection; best routed to premium container production. |
Stellerit Hybrid tea rose HARrowbond offers award-backed flower form, strong citrus fragrance and hardy, upright structure on a predictable own-root base, making it a sound option for aligned capacity planning and a detailed discussion of volumes and timing.
