Harkness Roses

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Rosa 'Alexander', 1972 The Alexander Rose.jpg
Rosa 'Alexander', 1972

Harkness Roses (a trading name of R. Harkness & Co. Ltd) are rose breeders based at Hitchin, Hertfordshire in England. [1] The nursery was founded in 1879 in Yorkshire by brothers, John and Robert Harkness. Early varieties include 'Mrs. Harkness', 'Frensham' and 'Ena Harkness'. Jack Harkness, grandson of original co-founder, John Harkness, established the first rose hybridization program at the company in 1962, developing vigorous, healthy roses by hybridizing from wild rose species. His most successful new rose cultivars include: 'Amber Queen', 'Belmonte' and 'Anne Harkness'.

Contents

History

Rosa 'Amber Queen' Rose Amber Queen bara anba kuin (5974343766).jpg
Rosa 'Amber Queen'

Harkness Roses was established in 1879 in Bedale, Yorkshire by brothers, John Harkness (1857-1933) and Robert Harkness (1851-1920). In 1882, John and Robert began to grow and exhibit roses. Their new rose business was a great success; Queen Victoria purchased her roses from Harkness & Sons in the 1890s. John and Robert soon realized that Yorkshire's climate was too cold for an expanding rose growing business. In 1892, they decided to established a branch of the firm in a location with a warmer climate. Neither brother wanted to leave Yorkshire, so it was decided by a coin toss that Robert would move to Hitchin, Hertfordshire to establish the new branch of Harkness and Sons. In 1901, John and Robert decided to dissolve the company and create two separate nurseries. Robert established R. Harkness & Co, today known as Harkness Roses. [2]

"Early varieties of Harkness Roses include a sport of hybrid perpetual, 'Heinrich Schultheis', introduced in 1893 as 'Mrs. Harkness'. In the 1950s, Harkness popularized 'Frensham' and 'Ena Harkness', [3] both introduced in 1946 in the United Kingdom [4]

Rosa 'Anne Harkness' Rosa Anne Harkness.jpg
Rosa 'Anne Harkness'

Jack Harkness (1918-1994) was the grandson of the original co-founder John Harkness. [5] He established the first rose hybridization program at the company in 1962, developing vigorous, healthy roses by hybridizing from wild rose species. Early successes were with hybrid teas, and then later with floribundas. [6] In the 1970s he began breeding with Rosa persica, an unusual rose species with simple leaves. [7] During his career, Harkness developed many successful rose cultivars, including 'Alexander', 'Mountbatten' and 'Amber Queen'. He is best known for his floribundas and hybrid tea roses. [8]

Robert Harkness, son of Jack Harkness (1951-2012), bred more than seventy rose varieties during his career. Among his best known varieties are: Rosa 'Belmonte' and 'Princess of Wales'. Philip Harkness, Jack's son and Robert's brother continues today as co-owner of Harkness Roses. [9] [10]

Poet, Ted Hughes, worked at the nursery during the summer of 1955: "The job is following round the expert as he grafts expensive rose-buds onto common bushes, and doing all the trimming and tying-up-with-raffia—a back-breaking job apparently, but outside, and with roses, and with good employers." [11]

Selected roses

Related Research Articles

<i>Rosa</i> Anne Harkness Apricot Floribunda rose cultivar

Rosa 'Anne Harkness' is an apricot floribunda rose cultivar developed by Jack Harkness in 1979 and introduced into Great Britain in 1980. The rose makes an outstanding cut flower and is exceptionally long lasting in water.

<i>Rosa</i> Belmonte Floribunda rose cultivar

Rosa 'Belmonte' is a light pink floribunda rose, created by Harkness Roses of Hitchin, Hertfordshire and introduced in Great Britain in 2007.

<i>Rosa</i> Bridge of Sighs Apricot climbing rose cultivar

Rosa'Bridge of Sighs' is an apricot climbing rose cultivar, developed by Jack Harkness and introduced into Great Britain by Harkness Roses in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garden roses</span> Ornamental roses

Garden roses are predominantly hybrid roses that are grown as ornamental plants in private or public gardens. They are one of the most popular and widely cultivated groups of flowering plants, especially in temperate climates. An enormous number of garden cultivars have been produced, especially over the last two centuries, though roses have been known in the garden for millennia beforehand. While most garden roses are grown for their flowers, often in dedicated rose gardens, some are also valued for other reasons, such as having ornamental fruit, providing ground cover, or for hedging.

Sam McGredy refers to four generations of Northern Irish rose hybridizers. Sam McGredy I founded the family nursery in 1880. Sam McGredy II focused the nursery on roses in 1895. Sam McGredy III took over in 1926, and was the first to name roses after family members. Sam McGredy IV moved operations to New Zealand in 1974 after a close friend was murdered by Loyalist paramilitaries during The Troubles, and focused on Floribundas, Hybrid Teas and Grandifloras, including 'Paddy Stephens', 'New Zealand', and 'Kathryn McGredy'; and the hand-painted roses such as 'Regensberg'.

<i>Rosa</i> Electron

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<i>Rosa</i> Handel

Rosa 'Handel',, is a climbing floribunda rose cultivar, developed by Samuel McGredy IV in 1960. The cultivar was the recipient of the Portland Gold Medal in 1975.

<i>Rosa</i> Olympiad

Rosa 'Olympiad',, is a hybrid tea rose cultivar, developed by Sam McGredy IV, and introduced into New Zealand by McGredy Roses International in 1974. The cultivar was named an All-America Rose Selections winner in 1984, and the recipient of the Portland Gold Medal in 1995.

<i>Rosa</i> Dublin Bay

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<i>Rosa</i> Alexander Orange-red Hybrid tea rose cultivar

Rosa 'Alexander' is an orange-red hybrid tea rose. The cultivar was bred by Jack Harkness and introduced into Great Britain in 1972 by R. Harkness Roses & Co, Ltd. It has been awarded the Award of Garden Merit (AGM) by the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) in 1993.

<i>Rosa</i> Frensham Red Floribunda rose cultivar

Rosa 'Frensham' is a dark red Floribunda rose cultivar, developed by Albert Norman in 1942 and introduced into Britain by Harkness Roses in 1946 as 'Frensham'. It was awarded the RNRS Gold Medal by the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) in 1943.

<i>Rosa</i> Ena Harkness Red Hybrid tea rose cultivar

Rosa 'Ena Harkness' is a medium red hybrid tea rose cultivar, developed by Albert Norman before 1940 and introduced into Britain by Harkness Roses in 1946. It was awarded the RNRS Gold Medal by the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) in 1945 and the Portland Gold Medal in 1955.

<i>Rosa</i> Maggie Barry

Rosa 'Maggie Barry' is a pink blend hybrid tea rose with dark salmon edges. The rose cultivar was bred by Sam McGredy IV in 1986 and introduced into New Zealand in 1993 by McGredy Roses International.

<i>Rosa</i> Margaret McGredy Orange-red hybrid tea rose cultivar

Rosa 'Margaret McGredy' is an orange-red hybrid tea rose, bred by Irish rose breeder Sam McGredy III before 1925. The new rose was awarded the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) Gold Medal in 1925, but was never commercially successful. 'Margaret McGredy, along with an unnamed seedling, was used to hybridize the legendary hybrid tea rose, 'Peace'.

<i>Rosa</i> Charles P. Kilham Orange-red hybrid tea rose cultivar

Rosa 'Charles P. Kilham' is an orange-red hybrid tea rose, bred by Irish rose breeder, Samuel McGredy III before 1926. The rose was introduced in France in 1926 and Australia in 1927. It won the Royal National Rose Society (RNRS) gold medal in 1927. 'Charles P. Kilham' is one of the ancestors of the legendary hybrid tea rose, 'Peace'.

<i>Rosa</i> Compassion Pink blend modern climbing rose cultivar

Rosa 'Compassion' is a pink-blend climbing rose cultivar developed by Jack Harkness and introduced into Great Britain in 1972. It is considered to be one of the best modern climbers and is a popular selling rose in Britain.

<i>Rosa</i> Margaret Merril White-blend Floribunda rose cultivar

Rosa 'Margaret Merril' is a white-blend Floribunda rose cultivar developed by Harkness Roses in 1972 and introduced into Great Britain in 1978. It is the winner of multiple rose awards, including the Geneva Gold Medal and Rome Gold Medal and the Hague and Auckland Fragrance awards.

<i>Rosa</i> Yesterday Purple crimson Polyantha rose cultivar

Rosa 'Yesterday' is a purple-crimson Polyantha rose cultivar developed by Jack Harkness and introduced into Great Britain in 1974. The introduction of this rose created a new interest in Polyantha roses, which were popular from 1900 to 1950.

<i>Rosa</i> Savoy Hotel Light pink hybrid tea rose cultivar

Rosa'Savoy Hotel' is a light pink hybrid tea rose cultivar, developed by Jack Harkness in 1987 and introduced into Great Britain by Harkness Roses in 1989. The rose was named to celebrate the centenary of the Savoy Hotel, a famous London hotel.

References

  1. ↑ "English Company 00539359 R.HARKNESS & CO. LIMITED". Companies House. Companies House . Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  2. ↑ Shields, Pamela (2014). Harkness Roses: Stories behind the names. Create Space Independent Publishing. ISBN   978-1496198938.
  3. ↑ "Ena Harkness". Help me find roses. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Frensham rose". Help Me find roses. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Harkness". Help me find Roses. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  6. ↑ Mack, Donna. "The Other English Roses - the Great Peter Harkness". Dave's Garden. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Schramm, Darrelll (2017). "Chinese Wilson and his species Roses" (PDF). The Rose Letter. 41 (4): 17. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Hessayon, D.G. (1996). The Rose Expert. Expert. p. 139. ISBN   978-0903505475.
  9. ↑ "Rose breeder Robert Harkness died". New Plants and Flowers. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "Tribute to rose grower and breeder Robert Harkness". Garden Forum. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
  11. ↑ (p.29, Letters of Ted Hughes ed. Christopher Reid, pub. 2007)
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