Harkness Roses is one of Britain's longest-running rose houses, with roots reaching back to 1879. The company began as a nursery in Yorkshire and later developed a dedicated breeding program, particularly under Jack Harkness, whose work helped establish Harkness as an internationally recognized source of new garden roses. Over generations, Harkness breeders have produced Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, climbers, shrub roses, and commemorative varieties grown well beyond the United Kingdom.
One particularly important shift in the modern Harkness program came in the 1990s, when the company stopped using fungicides in its breeding trials. This allowed seedlings to reveal their natural susceptibility or resistance to disease, making plant health an increasingly important selection criterion alongside color, fragrance, flower form, and repeat bloom. Modern Harkness introductions continue this balance between traditional British rose character and practical garden performance.
The company has also maintained a tradition of commemorative and charitable roses, creating varieties connected to royal occasions, public figures, charities, and cultural events. That combination of more than a century of nursery history and an active modern breeding program makes Harkness one of the enduring names in British roses.
