As Seen At Chelsea

More About As Seen At Chelsea

Roses With a Chelsea Story

Among the most talked-about recent Harkness introductions is Catherine's Rose, launched at RHS Chelsea 2025 and displayed in the Great Pavilion to considerable acclaim. Bred by Harkness and presented at the show as a significant new variety, it represents exactly the kind of carefully considered introduction that the Chelsea Flower Show brings to public attention for the first time.

Earlier, Rose 'Chelsea Pensioner' made its debut at the 2024 show, introduced by Harkness and featured in RHS coverage for its deep red colouring, fragrance and the bold, characterful personality that inspired its name. It is the kind of rose that draws people in at a show and continues to deliver in the garden long after the Chelsea gates have closed.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation Rose is another variety associated with the Harkness name, bringing a vivid personality to the range that reflects the showmanship of its namesake. Rich in colour and confident in character, it is a rose that certainly makes an impression.

What Makes a Chelsea Rose Special?

A rose unveiled at the RHS Chelsea flower show has passed through one of horticulture's most rigorous filters. Breeders choose the show specifically because the audience includes the most knowledgeable gardeners, judges and press in the industry. A variety shown there has been deemed ready to stand up to that scrutiny.

For home gardeners, it means the rose has been assessed not just for how it looks in a pot on a show stand, but for what it can do in the garden too. Fragrance, repeat flowering, disease resistance, and overall vigour, are all qualities of these roses.

Growing Chelsea Roses at Home

The good news is that show pedigree does not mean these varieties are difficult to grow. They are bred to perform in real gardens, not just under the controlled conditions of a show pavilion. Most are straightforward to grow in a sunny border with well-drained soil, and many are just as happy in a generous container on a patio or terrace.

Planting a rose that featured at Chelsea Flower Show is also a personal way to mark an occasion, celebrate a milestone or give a gift that will be remembered for years.

Shop the Collection

Each rose in this range is available to order directly from Harkness Roses, dispatched at the right time for planting and backed by over a century of rose-growing expertise. Whether the aim is to own a piece of Chelsea history, find a conversation-starting centrepiece for the border, or simply grow a rose bred to the highest possible standard, this collection is the place to start.