Philip Harkness represents the modern generation of the Harkness rose-breeding family. As chairman and breeder within Harkness Roses, he has continued a company tradition extending back to the nineteenth century while creating roses for today's gardens. His work has included varieties selected for fragrance, plant health, garden performance, and the ability to commemorate people or organizations through a living tribute.
Among recent examples are roses created for charitable and commemorative purposes, including the Dr. Susan Michaelis Rose and the Hunts Blind Centenary Rose. His role illustrates an important side of modern rose breeding: a successful rose must often do more than produce an attractive flower. It may need strong foliage, repeat bloom, fragrance, manageable growth, and a meaningful story that connects the plant with the gardener who chooses it.
