LIVIN' EASY – orange flower‑bed floribunda rose - Harkness
Set the tone for relaxed garden afternoons with ‘Livin’ Easy’, a dependable floribunda that brings a soft, romantic glow to borders without demanding constant work. Its upright, bushy habit fills a small family plot or cottage-style bed with glossy foliage and clusters of warm orange blooms that refresh themselves thanks to good self-cleaning. This own-root rose settles in reliably on typical British soils and, once established, anchors well even where breezes and showers regularly sweep in from the coast. The long flowering season and remontant display make it ideal near a seating area or kitchen garden path, where you can enjoy its subtly sweet fragrance and storybook charm with minimal pruning decisions. Over the seasons its robust root system supports steady regrowth and a long-lived, easy-going presence that fits effortlessly into an English cottage garden mood.
Usage options
| Target area |
Reasoning |
| Front to mid flowerbed in a family garden |
Clustered, self-cleaning blooms keep beds looking tidy without daily deadheading, while the upright, bushy shape fills gaps quickly and is simple to maintain with light annual pruning – ideal for busy beginners |
| Romantic cottage-style border with mixed perennials |
The warm orange-peach flowers layer beautifully with cottage favourites, and the remontant flowering habit provides a long season of colour that supports a relaxed, storybook look without complex care – perfect for cottage‑garden lovers |
| Low informal hedge or edging along paths |
Regular spacing gives a soft, neat line of foliage and blooms; own-root plants recover well from trimming, building a durable, living border that copes with everyday family use and light clipping – reassuring for practical homeowners |
| Large container on terrace, patio or small urban garden |
In a 40–50 litre pot with good drainage, its upright habit, glossy leaves and repeat flowers create a strong focal point, while moderate maintenance needs suit those with only weekend time – attractive for city gardeners |
| Sunny, exposed position with regular wind and rain |
Once established, the sturdy framework and well-anchored root system give stable growth and reliable flowering even where weather is blustery and wet, reducing the risk of plants toppling or failing – reassuring for coastal residents |
| Mixed planting on heavier or chalky garden soils |
Own-root plants adapt steadily, building roots in year one, stronger shoots in year two, then full garden impact by year three, offering lasting value where conditions are not perfect – helpful for typical family gardeners |
| Low-maintenance mass planting in front gardens |
Consistent height, good self-cleaning and a floribunda flowering habit give broad sweeps of colour with only seasonal pruning and occasional pest checks, keeping kerbside beds smart with modest effort – suited to time‑pressed owners |
| Roses near seating areas for gentle scent and colour |
The mild, slightly sweet fragrance and warm tones are noticeable without being overpowering, while the remontant clusters keep interest around patios and arbours for much of the summer – appreciated by relaxed hosts |
Styling ideas
- Cottage-Glow Border – Combine with soft pink roses, catmint and hardy geraniums for an English cottage feel around a lawn or seating area – ideal for romantic traditionalists
- Kitchen-Garden Edge – Line vegetable beds or paths with these floribundas, underplanting with chives and marigolds to blend ornament and produce – good for practical kitchen‑garden owners
- Warm-Toned Drift – Mass-plant several shrubs with Stipa tenuissima and Echinacea for a glowing, late-summer drift – suited to those wanting bold but easy structure
- Patio Focal Pot – Grow a single plant in a 40–50 litre container with trailing thyme or lobelia to soften the rim – perfect for balcony and courtyard gardeners
- Soft Screening Row – Create a low informal hedge along a boundary, pairing with Lonicera nitida ‘Maigrün’ for evergreen groundcover beneath – appealing to families seeking gentle privacy
Technical cultivar profile
| Aspect |
Data |
| Name and registration |
Floribunda bedding rose, registered as HARwelcome, marketed as Livin’ Easy; ARS exhibition name Livin’ Easy; part of the Bedding rose collection for garden and display use. |
| Origin and breeding |
Bred in 1988 in Hitchin, UK by John A. Harkness, from cross ‘Southampton’ × ‘Remember Me’; registered 1995 and introduced after 1995 via Harkness in the UK and Weeks Roses in the USA. |
| Awards and recognition |
RNRS Gold Medal 1990, All-America Rose Selections 1996, Portland Gold Medal 1997 and RHS Award of Garden Merit 2001, confirming strong ornamental reliability in varied garden settings. |
| Growth and structural characteristics |
Upright, bushy shrub reaching about 100–140 cm high and 80–120 cm wide, with dense, mid-green, glossy foliage and moderate prickliness; forms a well-filled bedding or border plant over time. |
| Flower morphology |
Double, cup-shaped clusters with approximately 26–39 petals per bloom and large 2.75–3.95 inch flowers; remontant, with especially abundant second flush, giving long, colourful display in season. |
| Colour data and phenology |
Strong warm orange base with peach tints, deep buds lightening towards full bloom; colour softens in strong sun but remains vivid in cooler spells; ARS code OB, RHS 28B outer, 28A inner petals. |
| Fragrance and aroma |
Mild, slightly sweet scent noticeable at close range rather than across the garden; double blooms limit pollen access so value is mainly ornamental rather than for supporting pollinating insects. |
| Hip characteristics |
Occasional small ovoid hips, about 12–18 mm across, in a decorative red; typically incidental in appearance and not produced in quantities that dominate the plant’s overall garden effect. |
| Resistance and winter hardiness |
Hardy to around −26 to −23 °C (RHS H7, USDA 5b, Swedish zone 4); black spot resistant with moderate susceptibility to mildew and rust; tolerates heat and moderate drought given sensible irrigation. |
| Horticultural recommendations |
Best in sunny positions for beds, hedging, edging and containers; plant 60–110 cm apart, roughly 2–2.3 plants/m² for massing; medium maintenance, with occasional pest care and standard winter pruning. |
LIVIN' EASY offers long-season cluster flowering, self-cleaning blooms and sturdy, own-root resilience for many years of relaxed cottage-garden colour; a thoughtful choice if you prefer roses that quietly look after themselves.
