FloribundaHarkness, 2009Yellow

Victoria Pendleton

'Harpace'; a golden rose for a golden champion, an Olympic cyclist.

'Harpace' · Harkness · charity rose

Variety profile Gardeners' photos

Variety profile

Flowering

Repeat flowering

Abundant repeat flowering from late spring to the first frosts. Months are approximate, for the climate of Ukraine.

Awards

Gold Standard

2011 (UK)

Plant size

90 × 60 cm

Habit: Sturdy, bushy, spreading, with many shoots
Dimensions: 90 cm tall × 60 cm wide; a neat floribunda
Support: Needs no support; a free-standing bush. Despite the 'climber' label on the breeder's website, this is an error: by size and by all sources it is a floribunda.
Shoots: Strong, straight
Branching: Abundant

Flower

40 petals

Bud shape: Round
Open flower: Cupped, opening gradually; large and dense
Centre: Dense, packed with petals
Fullness: Double, 40 petals
Flower carriage: In clusters of up to 7 flowers; the flowers are large and 'heavy'
Flower durability: Large dense flowers hold their shape well

Fragrance

Moderate

Sun

Full sun

Do not plant in overly windy spots, as the flowers are heavy.

Thorns

Moderate

thornlessfewmoderatemanyvery many

Moderate number (precise data are scarce).

Foliage

Dark green, glossy.

All characteristics in a table

Group: Floribunda
Breeder: Harkness, 2009
Bud shape: Round
Open flower: Cupped, opening gradually; large and dense
Centre: Dense, packed with petals
Colour: Golden amber (gold + amber) with a light hint of orange; officially described as 'yellow', but in fact warmer, an amber shade
Fullness: Double, 40 petals
Flower carriage: In clusters of up to 7 flowers; the flowers are large and 'heavy'
Flowering: Abundant repeat flowering from late spring to the first frosts
Fragrance: Moderate
Flower durability: Large dense flowers hold their shape well
Habit: Sturdy, bushy, spreading, with many shoots
Branching: Abundant
Shoots: Strong, straight
Thorns: Moderate number (precise data are scarce).
Dimensions: 90 cm tall × 60 cm wide; a neat floribunda
Support: Needs no support; a free-standing bush. Despite the 'climber' label on the breeder's website, this is an error: by size and by all sources it is a floribunda.
Foliage: Dark green, glossy
Resistance: No variety-specific data; high resistance is not claimed without confirmation
Tip: Do not plant in overly windy spots: heavy flowers can bend the shoots (Harkness recommendation)

Colour scheme

Golden amber (gold + amber) with a light hint of orange; officially described as 'yellow', but in fact warmer, an amber shade

Rose neighbours

Goldelsegolden amber

Saharaamber-yellow

Golden Zestgolden

Blue for Yousmoky purple · contrast

Perennials to plant nearby

Delphiniumblue

Catmint (Nepeta)sky blue

Salviapurple

Perovskiablue-purple

Neighbouring roses

Golden, amber and yellow varieties keep a single sunny palette around Victoria Pendleton.

Goldelse Sahara Golden Zest Blue for You

Companion perennials

Blue and purple perennials give the brightest contrast with the golden-amber flower:

delphiniumcatmint (Nepeta)salviaperovskia

Contrast accents

For depth beside the golden Victoria Pendleton — blue or purple tones or dark greenery:

delphiniumlavenderdark-leaved hosta

More about the variety

Tip: Do not plant in overly windy spots: heavy flowers can bend the shoots (Harkness recommendation)

How to grow

Where to plant. Flower beds and borders, group plantings, the front and middle of a garden. Especially effective beside blue perennials. Choose a not-too-windy spot, as the flowers are heavy.

Climate. No variety-specific winter hardiness rating; for Harkness floribundas, roughly zones 6–9 (RHS H6). In most of Ukraine, plan winter cover.

Care. Typical for a floribunda: sun, moderate watering, removing spent flowers for new flushes. There are no special data on disease resistance, so in a wet summer prevention will not hurt.

About the name

Name. The rose is named after Victoria Pendleton, the British Olympic track sprint cyclist and Olympic champion. The variety was presented at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show under the slogan 'a golden rose for the golden girl'; the idea of honouring the athlete belonged to Laslo Puskas of Stevenage.

Breeding. Bred by the English firm Harkness; registered name 'Harpace' (protected by PBR); presented around 2009. It belongs to Harkness's 'charity' varieties. Awards: Gold Standard 2011, a British mark of garden rose quality based on independent trials.

Frequently asked questions about Victoria Pendleton

How many times a season does Victoria Pendleton flower?

Abundant repeat flowering from late spring to the first frosts.

How big does Victoria Pendleton grow?

About 90 cm tall, about 60 cm wide.

How much sun does Victoria Pendleton need?

Sun; full sun; do not plant in overly windy spots, as the flowers are heavy.

What does Victoria Pendleton smell like?

Moderate.