Climbing and rambling roses

90-046-1
90-046-2

Belle de Londres

Climbing rose

Compassion – Jack L. Harkness

Warm salmon-pink base tone with a peachy centre. A faint pink blush is visible on the outer zones. - climber, climbing rose - strong, distinctive-scented rose - rich, fruity fragrance

– XL blooms with elegant, high‑centred form.
– Warm salmon‑pink tones with peachy centre.
– Strong, rich fruity fragrance in bloom.
– Vigorous climber for walls, arches, pergolas.
– Reliable remontant flowering through summer.
Special feature: RHS Award of Garden Merit winner, trusted for lasting garden performance.
Long lifespan – Responsible plant selection
Belle de Londres
darinaROSE® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
21,10 £
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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BELLE DE LONDRES – pink climbing rose – Harkness

Plant BELLE DE LONDRES beside a doorway, pergola or arbour and within a few seasons you can enjoy afternoon tea framed by its romantic high-centred blooms and fruity perfume. This classic Harkness climber brings a storybook feeling to even a modest family garden, its warm salmon-pink flowers softening fences and walls with a gentle, cottage charm. On its own roots it builds a naturally long-lived framework that can regenerate from the base after hard pruning or winter damage, supporting a reliable display year after year. Over time the plant anchors itself strongly, coping well where gardens are exposed to brisk coastal breezes and frequent showers, so that your vertical planting remains visually stable and reassuringly enduring.


Usage options

Target areaReasoning
House wall near a seating area Trained on wires against a sunny or lightly shaded wall, BELLE DE LONDRES brings a steady flush of large, double flowers and a rich, fruity fragrance to the spots where you sit most often. Its strong scent and warm salmon-pink tones create a cosy, enveloping atmosphere for family meals or evening relaxation. Over the years, the own-root framework thickens and can be refreshed by cutting back older stems, so the display remains dependable without replanting. Recommended for the busy home gardener.
Arbour or arch over a garden path This climber’s tall, flexible canes are ideal for clothing an arch, creating a tunnel of blooms that feels both romantic and intimate. The repeat flowering habit keeps colour coming after the first main flush, so paths to the veg patch or back gate stay inviting through summer. Once established, the plant’s own-root system supports vigorous regrowth if you prune harder to keep the structure clear underneath, maintaining a long-lived framework with minimal replacement. Recommended for the cottage-style enthusiast.
Pergola beside patio or lawn On a pergola, BELLE DE LONDRES offers shade, screening and scent in one, with glossy dark foliage and clustered flowers hanging at just the right height. The strong fragrance is especially noticeable in sheltered corners, adding a luxurious feel to ordinary family spaces. Its climber habit allows you to shape growth with light annual pruning rather than intricate shaping, while the own-root nature means any older stems can be renewed from the base as needed. Recommended for the relaxed patio owner.
Fence or boundary screen Used along a boundary, this rose softens hard fencing with its dense foliage and generous bloom trusses, giving privacy as well as colour. The mature plant forms a robust, woody framework that anchors itself in the soil and stands up well in gardens where wind and rain are frequent visitors. Own-root plants tend to recover better from occasional dieback, helping you maintain a continuous line of coverage without gaps. Recommended for the practical family gardener.
Feature pillar or obelisk in a mixed border Training BELLE DE LONDRES around a tall pillar transforms a small border into a vertical focal point, lifting the eye above perennials and herbs. The high-centred flower shape and exhibition-style blooms give a refined look that contrasts beautifully with looser cottage plants. Because the plant flowers repeatedly, the feature remains interesting over a long season, and own-root vigour ensures the pillar remains well clothed as the years pass. Recommended for the style-conscious beginner.
Large container on terrace (40–50 litres minimum) In a spacious container of at least 40–50 litres, this climber can be used to frame a balcony or roof terrace where planting soil is limited. The repeat flowering and strong fragrance offer instant romance close to windows or seating, while simple tie-in and light pruning keep growth in bounds. Own-root plants in large pots typically remain productive for many seasons if watered and fed regularly, reducing the need for frequent replanting. Recommended for the busy urban gardener.
Cutting garden corner for scented stems BELLE DE LONDRES provides long, elegant stems with large, double blooms suited to arranging in jugs and vases, bringing its rich scent indoors. The colour shifts from peachy-pink to softer pastel tones, giving variety in each picking. Because the plant is remontant, you can cut sparingly through the season without losing all garden colour. Over the first three years it moves from building roots, to framework, to full ornamental value, supporting a steady supply of stems. Recommended for the home flower arranger.
Traditional cottage-style rose and kitchen garden Threaded between fruit trees, herbs and vegetables, this climber reinforces a traditional English cottage mood, its warm pink flowers harmonising with soft blues, whites and greens. Despite needing regular health checks, it responds well to straightforward pruning, with old canes replaced gradually to keep the structure young. The own-root habit encourages reliable regrowth after harder cuts, so the rose remains part of the garden’s character for many years. Recommended for the traditionalist gardener.

Styling ideas

  • Doorway-arch elegance – Train BELLE DE LONDRES over a simple metal arch by the back door, underplanting with dwarf coral bells and soft lavender for year-round foliage and colour – ideal for lovers of gentle everyday romance.
  • Pergola tea corner – Cover a wooden pergola beside the lawn, adding a bistro set beneath and edging with chives and strawberries to echo a kitchen garden feel – perfect for families who enjoy relaxed outdoor meals.
  • Cottage fence tapestry – Let the climber weave along a timber fence, interplanted with blanket flower and hardy geraniums for a long-season, low-maintenance tapestry of pink, gold and blue – suited to time-pressed homeowners.
  • Patio pillar focal – Spiral the rose around a sturdy obelisk in a large 50‑litre container, underplanted with heuchera for contrasting foliage, to create a strong vertical accent on smaller terraces – good for urban balcony gardeners.
  • Kitchen-garden gateway – Frame the entrance to a veg patch with paired wooden posts and wires carrying BELLE DE LONDRES, with thyme and sage at the base, blending productivity with romance – appealing to cottage-plot enthusiasts.

Technical cultivar profile
PropertyData
Name and registration BELLE DE LONDRES – Compassion; large-flowered climbing rose, ARS name ‘Compassion’. Registered climber introduced for ornamental use on walls, arches and garden structures.
Origin and breeding Bred by Jack L. Harkness, United Kingdom, 1972, from ‘White Cockade’ × ‘Prima Ballerina’. Introduced by Harkness Roses, Hitchin, with ongoing popularity in traditional gardens.
Awards and recognition Holds the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit, indicating consistent ornamental performance and garden value under UK conditions when grown with suitable care.
Growth and structural characteristics Strong climbing habit reaching around 320–500 cm high and 160–260 cm spread, with dense, glossy dark green foliage and well-armed canes suitable for training on supports.
Flower morphology Large, double, high-centred blooms with 26–39 petals, typically borne in clusters of 3–5 per stem. Remontant flowering ensures a main flush followed by abundant repeat bloom.
Colour data and phenology Warm salmon-pink with peachy centre; buds deep peach-pink, ageing through pastel pink to creamy tints in strong sun. Colour retention moderate, giving softly varied tones on the plant.
Fragrance and aroma Notable for a strong, rich, fruity perfume of classic rose character. Scent is most marked in warm, still weather and around seating areas where flowers are at nose height.
Hip characteristics Produces ovoid orange-red hips, about 14–22 mm in diameter, moderately abundant where spent blooms are not removed, adding discreet late-season interest and wildlife value.
Resistance and winter hardiness Rated to approximately −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish Zon 4). Disease resistance moderate to weak; regular monitoring and timely protection are advised in humid seasons.
Horticultural recommendations Best on well-drained soil in sun or light shade, with support for climbing. Space 150–300 cm apart depending on use, allow good air movement, and prune annually to renew older canes.

BELLE DE LONDRES offers tall, romantic coverage, richly scented blooms and dependable repeat flower on an own-root plant that matures into a lasting garden feature, making it a thoughtful choice for your next climbing rose.

Detailed product attributes

Product Identification Data

Product Name: BELLE DE LONDRES – pink climbing rose - Harkness
Product Type: darinaROSE® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Cultivar Authenticity: Verified:29.08.2025
Cultivar Quality Rating: premium bronze
Item Number: [1396] 90-046 (14.02.2026) darinarose.co.uk

Name and Registration

Meaning of Cultivar Name: The French name "Belle de Londres" means "the beauty of London", and the English trade name "Compassion" means "compassion".
Cultivar Synonym: Compassion
Original Trade Name: Compassion
Current Trade Name: Belle de Londres Climbing rose Compassion
Rose Group: Climber, Large -Flowered Climber
Commercial Type: climber, climbing rose
Commercial Group: Climbing rose
Exhibition Category: exhibition large-flowered climbing rose
Collection: Climbing rose

Origin and Breeding

Initial Distributor: Harkness Roses (United Kingdom)
Breeder: Jack L. Harkness
Breeding Company / Institution: Harkness Roses (Hitchin, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom)
Breeding Year: United Kingdom, 1972
Parentage: 'White Cockade' × 'Prima Ballerina'

Awards and Honours

Horticultural Ratings and Recommendations: RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM)
Competition and Show Awards: Royal Horticultural Society – Award of Garden Merit (AGM)

Growth and Structural Characteristics

Height: 10.5-16.4ft (320-500 cm)
Spread: 5.2-8.5ft (160-260 cm)
Growth Habit: climbing
Foliage: The variety has dense foliage, with glossy leaves in a dark green shade (RHS 137A).
Prickliness: densely thorned
Self-Cleaning Description: Spent flowers often remain on the plant and require subsequent cleaning.
Self-Cleaning Intensity: Self-cleaning: weak.

Flower Morphology

Petal Count: 26-39
Flower Fullness: double-flowered
Flower Shape: high-centred, pointed bud (cut-rose type)
Flower Size: XL (3,5 in -)
Inflorescence Type: clustered, 3-5 flowers/stem
Colour Code: ARS code: PB RHS code: 36D (outer), 36A (inner)
Repeat Flowering: It is remontant, with an abundant second flowering.

Colour Data and Phenology

Colour: pink
Flower Colour Description: Warm salmon-pink base tone with a peachy centre. A faint pink blush is visible on the outer zones.
Closed Bud: Deep peach-pink, with a more intense pink shade towards the tip.
Newly Opened Flower: Inside a peachy‑orange shade, with a vivid salmon‑pink tone on the outside.
Full Bloom: Uniform pink with a delicate peachy sheen, gently lightening towards the edges.
Before Fading: Fades to pastel pink, becoming creamy in places.
Colour Fading Description: It lightens with age and in strong sunlight, sometimes fading to a cream-coloured shade.

Fragrance and Aroma

Fragrance Strength: strong, distinctive-scented rose
Fragrance Character: rich, fruity fragrance
Pollinator Attraction: Double (26–39 petals); the flowers attract pollinators only to a limited extent because the double form often obscures the stamens and restricts access to pollen and nectar.
Pollinator-Friendly Rating: Attracts pollinators to a limited extent, primarily an ornamental variety.

Hip Characteristics

Hip Shape: egg-shaped
Hip Colour: orange-red
Hip Comment: Moderately abundant, 14–22 mm in diameter, ovoid, orange-red rose hip.

Resistance and Hardiness

Hardiness (°C): -26–-23 °C
Heat and Drought Tolerance Description: Performs well in heat; during prolonged drought it requires regular watering.
Disease Resistance: sensitive
  • powdery mildew – moderate
  • black spot – moderate
  • rust – very sensitive

Horticultural Recommendations

Recommended Planting Distance: 160 cm for mass planting, 150 cm for hedging, 300 cm as a specimen
Planting Density: in square planting 0,4 plants/m², in hexagonal arrangement 0,5 plants/m²
Partial Shade Tolerance: suitable for partial shade
Maintenance Requirement: Maintenance requirement high; regular plant protection is required due to its sensitivity.
Primary Uses: wall, fence, pergola, trellis, cut flower, flowerbed

Comments

Strengths: Long lifespan – Responsible plant selection
Companion Plants: Heuchera (low‑growing cultivars) - dwarf coral bells Prunus laurocerasus 'Klári' - cherry laurel Gaillardia x grandiflora - blanket flower
Comment: -
BELLE DE LONDRES – pink climbing rose - Harkness
Warm salmon-pink base tone with a peachy centre. A faint pink blush is visible on the outer zones. - climber, climbing rose - strong, distinctive-scented rose - rich, fruity fragrance
Online rose order - climber, climbing rose - Belle de Londres - pink - (10.5-16.4ft (320-500 cm))
Inflorescence: clustered, 3-5 flowers/stem Height: 10.5-16.4ft (320-500 cm) Flower shape: high-centred, pointed bud (cut-rose type) Winter hardiness: - pink - Harkness Roses (United Kingdom) climber, climbing rose - Flower size: XL (3,5 in -) Flower size: XL (3,5 in -) - Height: 10.5-16.4ft (320-500 cm) Height: 10.5-16.4ft (320-500 cm) - Flower fullness: double-flowered Belle de Londres - Roses in the garden | darinaROSE® Original - premium bronze Jack L. Harkness

We showcase the external appearance of the roses available for online purchase from our webshop.


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Information

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Let us ask ourselves the question: What do I want to use the rose for?
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Care guide

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.

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Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care  → ORIGINAL®
Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden  → EXTRA®
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Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance  → NATURAL®
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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.