Delicate, pure pale pink hue. - climber, climbing rose - strong, far-scented rose - spicy, bourbon-like aroma
– Strong, far-reaching spicy bourbon fragrance
– Charming pale pink, semi-double cup blooms
– Vigorous trailing climber for arches and walls
– Excellent resistance to major rose diseases
– Hardy to around –25 °C, reliable in cold areas
– Special feature: Almost thornless, very easy to handle.
A choice true to the garden – Based on experience
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
24,70 £
Unfortunately, we are currently unable to ship to the United Kingdom; we only deliver to countries within the European Union. For more information, please contact us!
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KATHLEEN HARROP – pale pink climbing rose – Dickson
Historic yet reassuringly reliable, ‘Kathleen Harrop’ is a softly romantic, pale pink climbing rose that settles happily into typical British family gardens, even where wind and rain can be frequent along exposed boundaries. Its semi-double, cup-shaped blooms repeat generously through the season, filling the air with a strong, far-reaching, spicy fragrance that evokes classic cottage gardens. Bred as a sport of ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’, it offers similarly sparse prickles, making training along arches, walls and fences more comfortable when you have limited time for garden tasks. This own-root plant forms a stable framework that matures steadily – roots first, then stronger shoots, then full display – supporting a long, dependable life in the border. With good disease resistance, tolerance of partial shade, and a naturally trailing habit ideal for arches and pergolas, it is a practical choice when you want a charming climber that simply works around a busy home.
Kathleen Harrop shows buds, newly opened blooms and fuller flowers side by side.
Kathleen Harrop shows semi-double pale pink blooms with 13–25 petals and a visible centre.
Usage options
Target area
Reasoning
Front-garden arch or porch entrance
The moderate height and trailing habit allow you to create a welcoming arch without overwhelming a small front garden. Strong, far-scented flowers bring fragrance right to the path where you pass daily, rewarding homeowners seeking a classic look with minimal fuss for the beginner.
Sunny house wall or warm fence
This variety’s good disease resistance and moderate heat tolerance make it well suited to the slightly drier, warmer conditions against a south- or west-facing wall. Once guided onto simple supports, its framework thickens over time, providing a long-lived vertical accent that suits the busy-owner.
Lightly shaded side passage or north-east aspect
‘Kathleen Harrop’ tolerates partial shade, so it continues to flower and carry scent where some other climbers struggle. This makes side passages and less-sunny boundaries useful planting space rather than dead corners, an advantage for the space-conscious town-gardener.
Family seating area or patio edge
The strong, spicy, bourbon-like fragrance carries well, so planting near a bench, patio or dining area gives you evening scent with little extra care. Its semi-double flowers offer a soft, traditional look that appeals to those who relax outdoors as a home-owner.
Cottage-style mixed border with vertical interest
The historic character and delicate pale pink colour integrate easily into cottage plantings with perennials and grasses. Own-root growth builds a durable framework over the years, anchoring the composition without demanding complex pruning from the hobby-gardener.
Pergola or walkway over a lawn
The moderately dense, dark green foliage and trailing canes drape attractively over simple pergola structures, creating a soft tunnel of colour and scent. Its low maintenance needs and good disease resistance mean fewer treatments or interventions for the time-poor.
Boundary screening on a wire or post-and-rail fence
Train along wires or a light trellis for a softly screening, flowered boundary. The rose performs reliably in typical UK conditions, coping well with unsettled weather along exposed fences, which reassures the practical, family-focused gardener.
Large container near the house (40–50 litres minimum)
In a substantial container with regular watering, this climber can be enjoyed close to doors or windows where ground planting is limited. Own-root vigour supports steady renewal of stems, so plants remain attractive over many seasons for the style-conscious balcony-owner.
Styling ideas
COTTAGE ARCH – Train ‘Kathleen Harrop’ over a simple metal or wooden arch and underplant with lavender and hardy geraniums for a soft, traditional welcome – ideal for lovers of classic cottage entrances.
SOFT SCREEN – Use along a wire-strung boundary with tall Verbena bonariensis in front to create a light, see-through screen of pink and purple – suited to family gardens that need gentle privacy.
SHADED CHARM – Plant in a lightly shaded side passage with white foxgloves and ferns so the pale pink blooms and strong scent brighten an otherwise overlooked area – perfect for making use of awkward spaces.
PERGOLA WALKWAY – Let the trailing canes drape over a pergola, interplanted with a small-flowered clematis such as ‘Little Artist’ for layered blossom – appealing to those seeking an immersive floral tunnel.
ROMANTIC PATIO – Grow in a 40–50 litre pot by the terrace, combining with silver foliage Artemisia and soft pink bedding plants for a harmonious, fragrant seating corner – attractive to urban gardeners with limited beds.
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
Historic large-flowered climbing rose, trade name ‘Kathleen Harrop’, unregistered sport of ‘Zéphirine Drouhin’, sold here as KATHLEEN HARROP – pale pink climbing rose – Dickson.
Origin and breeding
Bred by Alexander Dickson II, Dickson Nurseries, Northern Ireland; sport discovered and introduced in the United Kingdom around 1919, later distributed internationally as a classic climbing rose.
Growth and structural characteristics
Trailing climber, about 180–280 cm high and 100–170 cm wide, moderately dense, slightly glossy dark green foliage, sparsely thorned canes for easier training on arches, pergolas and walls.
Flower morphology
Semi-double, cup-shaped flowers with 13–25 petals, medium-sized clusters on short side shoots; remontant habit provides a main flush followed by abundant repeat flowering through the season.
Colour data and phenology
Delicate pale pink blooms; buds thin and pastel, opening clear pale pink, lightening towards creamy pink in strong sun, with colour retained best in cooler, milder conditions.
Fragrance and aroma
Strong, far-scented fragrance with a spicy, bourbon-like rose character, easily noticed on still evenings and in enclosed spaces such as porches or sheltered patios near the house.
Hip characteristics
Small spherical hips, about 8–12 mm, orange-red when produced; hips are occasional rather than abundant and usually appear when deadheading is not carried out regularly late in the season.
Resistance and winter hardiness
Good overall disease resistance, rated resistant to powdery mildew, black spot and rust; hardy roughly to -26 to -23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b), suitable for most settled UK garden climates.
Horticultural recommendations
Low maintenance needs with periodic deadheading and tying-in, prefers well-drained soil with regular moisture, performs in full sun to partial shade, ideal for arches, walls, fences and pergolas.
KATHLEEN HARROP offers fragrant repeat flowering, sparse prickles and dependable disease resistance on a long-lived own-root framework, making it a thoughtful choice for those planning a quietly romantic climbing rose.
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
KATHLEEN HARROP – pale pink climbing rose - Dickson
Product Type:
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Pollinator Attraction:
Semi-double (13–25 petalled) flowers moderately attract pollinators because the semi-double form partially hides the stamens, reducing their accessibility and thus lowering insect attraction.
Pollinator-Friendly Rating:
Semi-double (13–25 petals) flowers moderately attract pollinators, so this is a partially pollinator-friendly variety.
Our product is a rose grown with pharmaROSA®’s unique cultivation technology!
2-litre, own-root, potted rose.
With a shoot system appropriate to the season.
With a root system that thoroughly permeates the growing medium.
Quality compliant with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
Supplied in unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-variety rose bush with a unique identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Crop overview: several varieties and growth stages in a short crop section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: demonstration of a vigorous root system permeating the growing medium, by removing the pot.Balance: mature plant with root system and shoots in harmony with each other.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”; it illustrates the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root cultivation in a tangible way: how the plant is built up, what the root system is like and how the shoot system regenerates. The recordings were therefore made at different times and with plants at various stages of development, so mixed foliage levels and differing stages of growth may appear in the videos. They are not a ‘sample’ of the batch dispatched, but a visual explanation of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical for the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown in the upper part of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
