Lady Banks
Yellow
(aka Rosa banksiae 'Lutea') 
Wild
rose
Origin -
China
Color - Yellow
Foliage - Glossy green, long thin leaves
Thorns - Thornless
Size - 20' +
Fragrance - Light
Repeat bloom - No
Disease resistance - Good
Hardiness - Zone 7
The
Name of the Rose - Named after Dorothea Banks, the wife
of Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820), the discoverer of the rose.
This
is the earliest rose to bloom and the flowers are usually fading
by the time other roses even begin to bloom. A wild rose that hails
from China, it is used there to border crop fields. Lady Banks is
a rose of massive proportions and can easily grow over 20 feet in
a couple of years. In warm climates (zone 8 and higher), it is evergreen
and can become quite rampant. Tombstone, Arizona boasts "the
world's largest rose," a 100+ year old Lady Banks rose that
spreads 8,000 feet. It looks its best when grown on a structure
or against a house. I have mine planted by a purple wall. The combination
of the yellow flowers against the wall is very nice. The double
flowers appear in clusters and almost completely cover the plant
at peak bloom.
The
rose is very easy to grow although it is not the hardiest rose.
I've had two to die in previous years that were planted in open
areas and on the north side of my property. The third time seems
to be the charm, however, and I've had this one for three years
now. It is not picky about soil conditions or fertilizer. It is
thornless and disease free. About the only maintenance is pruning
(immediately following bloom) and training it to keep it from getting
out of hand. If you have enough room for it and don't mind the once-blooming
habit, this is an exceptional rose to consider.
A white
Lady Banks is also available and recently, a purple one was introduced.
I have not grown either of these.
More Climbers and Ramblers
Back