Rosa banksiae
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- RO-zuh BANK-see-eye
- Description
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Lady banks is an evergreen vigorous climbing shrub in the Roseaceae (rose) family that is native to central and western China. The rose was named for Dorothea Lady Banks, wife of the botanist Sir Joseph Banks in 1807. Two variations of this plant were found in China having either single white or double yellow flowers. it is thought the original was the single white flowered one, var. normalis, but then the double yellow flowered one, var. lutea, became more popular. There are now several cultivars available of this rose. This rose is not found in the wild and is most likely a “cultigen" of unknown parentage.
This rambling rose can grow up to 50 feet quickly and is mostly thornless but may have a few prickles on the strongest growing shoots. It requires some support such as a trellis to be trained on or a wall to cascade over. The plant can be grown in zones 6-9 but is only evergreen in warmer climates.
In early spring the plant produces many mildly fragrant white or pale yellow single or double flowers contrasting nicely with the compound leaves. Blooming occurs on old wood so only prune shortly after flowering occurs. Fruits are small red hips and inconspicuous.
This plant is tolerant of most well-drained garden soils and will grow in full sun to part shade. It does well growing on a fence, a trellis,or cascading over rocks or walls. Use as an accent plant, back of the border, naturalized area or even as a ground cover.
Quick ID Hints:
- Stems green, prickle-less ("thornless")
- Evergreen climbing shrub with pinnately compound leaves
- Many 1" double yellow (white) double flowers in spring
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Watch for black spot and mildew esp. in humid areas.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Alba Plena'
White flowers - 'Alboplena'
flowers are double, white, fragrant
'Lutea'
- 'Lutescens'
flowers are single, strongly fragrant, and have yellow petals - R. banksiae var. lutea
Soft yellow double of semi-double flowers - R. banksiae var. normalis
Single white flowers
Double flowers that are yellow - 'Alba Plena'
- 'Alba Plena', 'Alboplena', 'Lutea', 'Lutescens', R. banksiae var. lutea, R. banksiae var. normalis
- Tags:














- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba Plena'
White flowers - 'Alboplena'
flowers are double, white, fragrant
'Lutea'
- 'Lutescens'
flowers are single, strongly fragrant, and have yellow petals - R. banksiae var. lutea
Soft yellow double of semi-double flowers - R. banksiae var. normalis
Single white flowers
Double flowers that are yellow - 'Alba Plena'
- 'Alba Plena', 'Alboplena', 'Lutea', 'Lutescens', R. banksiae var. lutea, R. banksiae var. normalis
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rosa
- Species:
- bansiae
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Leaves and fruits were used in herbal medicine. Tannin obtained from the root bark is used as a brown dye
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts hummingbirds
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Fragrance
- Climbing Method:
- Scrambler
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Rose
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Cascading
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are dull red, and are a spherical hip containing many achenes.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are yellow or white, single to double, slightly fragrant, 1-2" in size, in clusters on short stems. Sepals are 5-lobed, lobes are reflexed, and entire. Blooms in early spring for about a month.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, and evergreen. There are 3-7 leaflets (typically 5) that are oblong-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate with serrated margins. They are glabrous above and sometimes downy beneath. Rachis are pubescent. Leaflets are 1.5-2.5 inches long
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are thornless, green, glabrous, vine-like, but not scandent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Pool/Hardscape
- Rock Wall
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds