An Unusual Rose

 

 

I wouldn't say I am the type of gardener that grows "roses". This type of gardener has a mental image in my mind of an older woman, British, wearing a huge rimmed hat and matching gloves. I imagine her to be prim and proper and knows exactly when and how to prune her roses to produce dinner plate size blooms. However, I have a rose that should be included in the "Dummies Guide to Roses"...the Lady Banks Rose.  I never fertilize, spray or water it. In fact, I wouldn't even clarifly it as a rose it is more of a shrubby vine. I have seen it in shrub and vine form. I have tied this trunk to an arbor and have trained it to grow up and over. I use "train" loosely. I tied it to the wood with pantyhose and cut away any branches that hung in the walkway.

The Lady Banks Rose is an evergreen, shrubby vine rose, drought tolerant (I don't water it at all), full to partial sun ( pic above is full sun ), it can grow up to 20 ft tall. The flowers, yellow or white, are small 1-2 inches in diameter and bloom one time of  year in Spring.  It is one of the earliest roses to bloom.  It is named after botanist Joseph Banks' wife.  The best part of this rose is that it is thornless!

early March before right before blooming

Middle April fully blooming

It originated in China but has an interesting American history by holding the Guinness World Record as the "Worlds Oldest Rosebush". Below is a picture of a Lady Banks Rose in Arizona planted in the 1885 on the rooftop of an Inn.  It covers 8000 sq ft and has a 12 ft circumference trunk.

 

  

 

So, I encourage you to purchase this beautiful rose and plant it next to your arbor. I also suggest planting something with late summer or fall blooms on the other side. That way when this is done blooming in spring you can continue your color into summer/fall.

Happy Gardening!

Nicki 

UPDATE: Potato Planter from previous blog is doing good. I have continued to add soil to the top of the pot.