A fragrant hybrid tea flowers, rich scarlet colour with mid to dark green foliage, rosa ‘Chelsea Pensioner’ was launched for the 2024 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The new rose is supplied freshly in a 3L pot, though at certain times of the year it’s also available in a 4L pot.
According to the breeder, Harkness will be donating £2.50 from the sale of each rose to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the charity that runs the home for retired veterans of the British Army, offering care and comradeship to around 300 former servicemen and women, based in London.
Harkness Roses are rose breeders based at Hitchin, Hertfordshire in England. The nursery was founded in 1879 in Yorkshire by brothers, John and Robert Harkness. Their current collection encompasses over 200 varieties of the roses from dedicated breeding programme, led by rose expert Philip Harkness.