BELLE DE LONDRES – pink climbing rose – Harkness
Compassion in rose form, BELLE DE LONDRES is a classic large-flowered climber that clothes walls, arches and pergolas with richly scented, salmon-pink blooms. Bred in Hertfordshire, this heritage variety has earned the RHS award of garden merit, reassuring you that it performs reliably in typical British conditions, even where wind and rain can challenge less robust roses and good drainage matters. Its vigorous yet manageable growth quickly creates vertical impact, while the glossy dark foliage provides an elegant backdrop. Strong, fruity fragrance, repeat flowering and the steady structure of an own-root plant promise years of ornamental value as the rose moves from establishing roots, to building shoots, to reaching its full display by the third season, ideal for a family garden you want to enjoy without complex maintenance.
Usage options
| Target area | Reasoning |
|---|
| House wall or sunny front facade |
Excellent choice for training against a warm wall, where its vigorous climber habit and dense foliage quickly create a welcoming vertical display with classic British character and long-term structure for beginners. |
| Arch or pergola over a garden path |
The extra-large, high-centred blooms and strong, fruity scent hang beautifully at head height, making every walk through the garden an occasion while providing a romantic focal point for cottage-lovers. |
| Feature rose in a small front garden border |
Used as a specimen against a trellis or pillar, it offers reliable repeat flowering and year-on-year presence without needing complex design, ideal when you want lasting effect from just one plant as a homeowner. |
| Mixed cottage-style bed with perennials |
Pairs well with traditional cottage companions, its warm salmon-pink tones blending harmoniously with soft perennials so the rose can grow into the overall picture gradually, suiting visually minded gardeners. |
| Screening on a fence or boundary |
The dense, glossy foliage and tall climbing habit help soften boundaries and provide a sense of privacy, developing into a permanent green-and-flower screen valued by space-conscious families. |
| Large container on terrace with support |
In a substantial 40–50 litre container with firm support, it can be enjoyed on patios where in-ground planting is limited, letting you bring traditional climbing-rose charm closer to the house as a busy urbanite. |
| Partially shaded side of the house |
Tolerates partial shade, so it can be used where full sun is limited; careful siting and regular care still reward you with flowers in spots many climbers would struggle, helpful for constrained-plot owners. |
| Exposed or coastal-leaning gardens |
Well-suited to training where it can be securely tied in, coping with wind and wet provided the soil is prepared with good drainage, reassuring for climates where weather can be testing for non-experts. |
Styling ideas
- London-Facade – Train BELLE DE LONDRES beside the front door with clipped evergreens below, echoing classic London terraces – ideal for style-conscious homeowners.
- Cottage-Arch – Cover a metal or wooden arch and underplant with lavender and dwarf coral bells for a fragrant walkway – perfect for cottage-garden enthusiasts.
- Romantic-Pergola – Let the long canes drape over a seating pergola, mixed with white clematis for contrast – suited to those creating a relaxing retreat.
- Soft-Screen – Use along a fence, interplanted with Gaillardia and ornamental grasses, to form a flowering privacy curtain – good for family gardens needing gentle screening.
- Patio-Statement – Grow in a 50-litre terracotta pot with a sturdy obelisk, surrounded by seasonal bedding for colour at the doorstep – attractive for balcony and small-patio gardeners.
Technical cultivar profile
| Property | Data |
|---|
| Name and registration |
Climbing rose ‘Compassion’, registered 1972, also marketed as BELLE DE LONDRES; large-flowered climbing rose within the climber group, verified cultivar authenticity for garden use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred by Jack L. Harkness, Harkness Roses, Hitchin, Hertfordshire; cross of ‘White Cockade’ × ‘Prima Ballerina’; introduced and registered in the United Kingdom in 1972. |
| Awards and recognition |
Holds the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (AGM), confirming dependable performance, ornamental quality and general garden value in tested conditions. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Vigorous climbing habit, typically 320–500 cm high and 160–260 cm spread; densely thorned canes with dark glossy foliage giving good coverage when trained on supports. |
| Flower morphology |
Very large, double, high-centred blooms with 26–39 petals; clustered inflorescences of 3–5 flowers per stem; remontant with abundant repeat flowering after the main flush. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Warm salmon-pink with peachy centre, deep peach-pink in bud; lightens towards petal edges, later fading to pastel pink and sometimes creamy tones in strong sun as flowers age. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Strong, rich, fruity rose fragrance, noticeable at a distance; primarily ornamental but contributes a pronounced scented presence around paths, doors and seating areas. |
| Hip characteristics |
Produces moderate quantities of small ovoid orange-red hips, around 14–22 mm in diameter, adding subtle seasonal interest in late season when flowers are fewer. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to approximately −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); needs regular protection against rust and moderate management for black spot and powdery mildew. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best on supports such as walls, fences, arches and pergolas; plant 150–300 cm apart, in sun or partial shade, with attentive pruning, tying in and timely disease prevention. |
BELLE DE LONDRES – Compassion combines rich fragrance, repeat flowering and lasting vertical structure in an own-root climbing rose that will mature steadily over the years; a thoughtful choice if you value character and continuity in your garden.
