Pure, mid-red shade. - groundcover rose - very weak, barely noticeable scented rose - delicately fruity
– Dense carpet of mid-red blooms all season
– Compact, spreading habit for easy groundcover
– Good self-cleaning, minimal deadheading needed
– Hardy to USDA 4b / RHS H7 climates
– Suits beds, containers and urban plantings Speisialtacht: Athbhláthaíonn sé le bláthú dara tonnta an-fhlúirseach.
All-season – Climate-conscious choice
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL 2-litre own-root potted rose
18,30 €
5(7565)
FAIRY DANCE – red groundcover rose – Harkness
If You would like a front garden that simply looks after itself, Fairy Dance is a compact groundcover polyantha that spreads into a low, blooming carpet without complicated pruning or fuss. Its semi-double, mid-red flowers appear in generous clusters from early summer and return in waves, giving small Irish gardens a playful rhythm of colour while You get on with everyday life. This own-root shrub gradually builds a strong base, so after planting it in a well-prepared bed or a 40–50 litre container, it will settle in, adapt and regenerate reliably over many years, even where the soil can be heavy and the drainage needs care in wet spells. In the first year it concentrates on roots, in the second on stronger shoots, and by the third season it reaches its full ornamental value, forming a neat, spreading carpet of glossy foliage and red blooms that suits both tidy urban fronts and relaxed cottage-style borders in the Irish climate.
Fairy Dance rose showing its very weak, delicately fruity fragrance.
Use cases
Target area
Reason
Front garden groundcover strip along a path or driveway
The low, spreading habit makes it ideal for covering bare soil and softening hard edges, creating an even, tidy red carpet effect with minimal shaping, perfect for busy beginners
Small rose group of 3–5 plants in a family garden bed
Clustered, repeat-flowering heads give a lively, massed look from a few plants, so You can achieve a full, coherent display without complicated design or intensive care, suiting hobby gardeners
Mixed cottage-style border with perennials and herbs
The moderate height and spreading shape weave well between catmint, lavender or heathers, adding long-season flower interest without overshadowing companions, ideal for fans of romantic planting
Urban or coastal front garden with challenging weather
Hardy to severe cold and tolerant of Irish winds and rain when drainage is improved, it copes well where gardens face frequent wet spells and heavy soils, reassuring for Irish homeowners
Large patio container or balcony planter (40–50 litres minimum)
In a generous container with quality compost and regular watering, its compact spread and repeating red blooms give a neat, long-lived feature that is easy to reach and tend, attractive for balcony dwellers
Low-maintenance edging in family play areas
The modest height and self-cleaning flowers mean fewer deadheading tasks and less visual mess, keeping borders smart around lawns and play spaces with only occasional pruning, ideal for busy families
Simple, reliable planting for beginner rose growers
As an own-root, medium-maintenance shrub with stable growth and remontant flowering, it offers predictable performance without specialist skills, helping new gardeners feel confident and encouraging first-time planters
Long-term, climate-conscious groundcover schemes
Durable own-root plants form a lasting, regenerating base that reduces replanting, suiting parks or home gardens aiming for resilient, low-input beds under increasingly wet and variable conditions, appealing to eco-minded gardeners
Decorating ideas
COTTAGE RIBBON – Run a curving strip of FAIRY DANCE along a path, backed with nepeta and dwarf deutzia for a soft cottage feel – for lovers of informal, storybook gardens
RED CARPET EDGE – Plant a narrow edging row beside your driveway, combining with low grasses for texture and a clean, modern frame – for homeowners who like neat but unfussy design
FRONT DOOR WELCOME – Place three plants in a 50 litre half-barrel with trailing ivy, flanking your entrance with long-season colour – for those wanting a simple, striking doorway feature
PARK-STYLE BED – Create a municipal-style mass planting at home, mixing FAIRY DANCE with compact hydrangeas for a structured, long-lived display – for gardeners who enjoy classic, reliable schemes
COASTAL SOFTENER – Use it in a sheltered coastal front garden with rosemary and hardy grasses to soften walls and gravel – for residents near the sea seeking resilient planting
Technical cultivar profile
Parameter
Data
Name and registration
Polyantha shrub rose, commercial type groundcover; registered as HARward, traded as FAIRY DANCE – red groundcover rose – Harkness; part of the Groundcover collection, exhibition category shrub rose.
Origin and breeding
Bred by Jack E. Harkness, United Kingdom, 1979; parentage unknown. Introduced by R. Harkness & Co. Ltd. in 1981 and registered the same year, representing dependable British groundcover breeding.
Growth and structure
Low, spreading growth habit reaching about 35–50 cm in height and 40–60 cm spread. Moderately dense, glossy mid-green foliage on moderately thorny stems creates an even, ground-hugging shrub.
Flower morphology
Semi-double, cup-shaped blooms with 13–25 petals, borne in clustered inflorescences. Small flower size, around 0.5–1.5 inches, carried freely over the plant, giving a dainty yet abundant floral effect.
Colour and phenology
Pure mid-red colouring; buds deep ruby red, opening to medium red, bright flowers. Outer petals slightly paler; colour lightens to pinkish tones in strong sun and with age, giving a soft, varied carpet effect.
Fragrance and aroma
Delicately fruity fragrance with very weak intensity, barely noticeable in normal garden use. Chosen more for visual impact and flowering capacity than for strong scent, suitable near seating without overpowering.
Rose hip characteristics
Produces small numbers of spherical hips, 5–7 mm across, coloured red (RHS 46A). Hips are incidental to the display as good self-cleaning prevents heavy set, but a few may appear late season.
Resistance and hardiness
Hardy to about −32 to −29 °C (USDA 4b, RHS H7, Swedish Zone 5). Disease resistance medium to black spot, mildew and rust; benefits from reasonable air movement and occasional preventative care.
Horticultural recommendations
Suited to beds, borders, groundcover, urban green spaces and large containers. Plant 35–40 cm apart; around 6.3–7.2 plants/m² for massing. Tolerates partial shade; needs regular watering in prolonged dry spells.
FAIRY DANCE offers low, carpeting colour, self-cleaning repeat blooms and long-lived own-root reliability, making it a practical, easy-care choice for Irish family gardens; You may find it suits the way You like to garden
Detailed product attributes
Product Identification Data
Product Name:
FAIRY DANCE – red groundcover rose - Harkness
Product Type:
pharmaROSA® ORIGINAL - 2-litre own-root potted rose
Pollinator Attraction:
Semi-double flowers with 13–25 petals moderately attract pollinators, as the semi‑double form and reduced stamen accessibility limit their attractiveness.
Pollinator-Friendly Rating:
Semi-double (13–25 petals) flowers partially cover the stamens, making them moderately pollinator-friendly.
Our product is a rose grown with unique pharmaROSA® cultivation technology!
2 litre, own-root, potted rose.
With shoots appropriate to the season.
With roots thoroughly interwoven through the growing medium.
Quality in line with the requirements of the E.N.A. (European Nurserystock Association).
In unique packaging that prevents damage.
Can be planted during frost-free periods.
True-to-type rose plant with an individual identifier.
The pharmaROSA® own-root potted rose is a well-rooted plant that supports reliable establishment when planted and cared for properly, so it can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen.
Stock: several varieties and several stages of development in a short stock section.Shoot system: intensive growth of fresh basal shoots on a young plant.Root system: presentation of the strong root system interwoven through the growing medium with the pot removed.Balance: mature plant where the development of the root system and the shoots is in harmony.
Information about the videos
The video series is not a “seasonal showcase”, but makes the essence of pharmaROSA® own-root production tangible: how the plant is built, what the root system is like and how the shoots renew themselves. The footage was therefore taken at different times, showing plants at different stages of development, so mixed leaf coverage or differing growth stages may appear in the videos. This is not a “sample” of the batch delivered, but an illustration of how the technology works. The current condition of the rose available to order — typical of the given period and similar to what you can expect to receive in the parcel — is shown at the top of the product page.
Pages for private customers Garden roses for the family garden, with minimal care → ORIGINAL® Premium garden roses – instant impact, a truly showpiece garden → EXTRA® Pages for professionals and private customers Roses for public spaces – large areas, sustainable maintenance → NATURAL® Roses for projects – hedge and row planting, fast implementation → RAPID® For professional partners only Production – propagation material for garden roses, wholesale → NEONATAL®
Company details
PharmaRosa Ltd. Company registration number: 01-09-717479 VAT number: 13075314-2-43 Plant health registration no.: HU130721 Bank account (IBAN): HU85117631891388688400000000 BIC (SWIFT): OTPVHUHB Bank name: OTP Bank Nyrt.
