Rosa 'Compassion'

The rose cultivar was developed by Jack Harkness of Harkness Roses (R. Harkness & Co. Ltd) at Hitchin, Hertfordshire. The acclaimed nursery, which continues to sell roses today, was established in 1879 in Bedale, Yorkshire by brothers, John Harkness (1857-1933) and (Robert Harkness (1851-1920). Jack Harkness (1918-1994) is the grandson of the original co-founder John Harkness.^[2] The Harkness family nursery grew roses from the beginning, but did not breed roses until 1962 when Jack Harkness began managing the business.^[3]

Harkness developed the rose cultivar by crossing the white, large-flowered climber, 'White Cockade' and the pink Hybrid tea rose, 'Prima Ballerina'. Harkness Roses introduced 'Compassion' into Britain in 1972.^[1] It is considered to be one of the best modern climbers and is a popular selling rose in Britain.^[4] 'Compassion' has six child plants: Rosa 'City Girl' (Harkness, 1985), Rosa 'High Hopes', Rosa 'Highfield', Rosa 'Loving Lorna', Rosa 'Paul Shirville', and Rosa 'Rosemary Harkness'.^[5]

'Compassion' is a modern climbing tea rose, 5 to 15 ft (1.5–4.6 m) in height with a 4 to 5 ft (1.2–1.5 m) spread. Blooms are large, have an average diameter of 4 in (100 mm), and a petal count of 26 to 40. Bloom color is a blend of salmon, pink, apricot, and orange and fades to off-white as the flowers mature. Scent is strong and fruity. Flowers are carried mostly solitary or in small clusters of up to five and have a classic hybrid tea bloom form.^[6]

'Compassion' blooms repeatedly throughout the season. It is very disease resistant and makes an excellent cut flower as well as a garden shrub. It also can be trained as a pillar rose. Foliage is large, dark green and glossy. The plant has many prickles and a dense, upright growth habit. 'Compassion' is known in France as 'Belle de Londres'.^[1][4]