Growing Banksiae roses in the garden

Rose Banksia (Rosabanksiae), known as Lady Banks Rose or Banks Rose, is a climbing rose. The Banksian yellow rose is considered vintage and no longer as popular with gardeners as it was a few decades ago, but it is nonetheless a reliable and useful plant that consistently impresses each spring. They really deserve a place in large gardens.

Peculiarities of Banksia rose

Rosa Banksiae originated in China, is part of the Rosaceae family, and is now distributed to other countries. Blooms earlier than many other roses. This climbing rose blooms in spring with small double white or yellow flowers that appear in inflorescences. Although they only bloom in spring, their attractive tender green leaves and thornless stems create seasonal greenery that adds an old-fashioned romance to the garden.

Shrubs with long climbing stems, the length of which can reach 12 meters. The stems are smooth, usually without thorns. Leaves of saturated green color are complex, consist of three to seven leaflets. Small double pale yellow flowers are collected in inflorescences along the entire length of the stem. They persist for three to four weeks before falling off.

Support for a rose

Banksian roses are often planted on pergolas, along walls and fences, or simply left to grow as large spreading shrubs that sometimes need support from below.

Additional information! Lady Banks is rather warm-hearted. It is recommended to grow it against the sheltered south wall of a house or other garden structure. In cold regions, it is required to remove the rose from the supports for winter shelter.

How to grow a Banksia rose

Caring for Lady Banks roses is much easier than other cultivated roses in the garden. Lady Banks is an unpretentious plant that needs minimal care to grow beautifully year after year. It needs a sunny position to bloom well.

Pay attention! Although Lady Banks blooms in full sun, it also tolerates partial shade, however, flowering is reduced where there is too much shade. Spring blooms won’t be as bright in a shady spot.

Select soil

Rosa Banksiae is not picky about soil composition if there is good drainage, but prefers well-drained moist soils. The ideal potting mix for climbing roses is sand, chalk, and loam.

Fertilization and irrigation

The rose should be properly watered. Maintain moisture in the first year until it takes root. Once the plant is established, it will be drought tolerant. Mature plants will have to be watered only during extreme heat or prolonged drought.

A moist environment will be more favorable for root growth, but water accumulation should not occur. This plant is drought-resistant and does not tolerate excess moisture. Allow the surrounding soil to dry completely before watering again. If the weather is relatively hot, the water will evaporate easily, so the amount should be increased. Keeps the soil moist with a layer of mulch around the plant, keeping the mulch away from the stem.

Suitable fertilizer

Add fertilizer to the soil around the base of the plant in early spring, doing so only after the last frost. Fertilize Lady Banks with a water-soluble rose fertilizer, feeding periodically during the growing season, following all directions on the label.

 

If using a slow release rose fertilizer, you may only need to do one application at the start of the growing season. Organic rose fertilizer is applied monthly during the growing season to ensure the plant receives the nutrients it needs to bloom the next spring. You can dilute decomposed manure every 20 days and water the bushes with it so that the nutrients slowly penetrate to the roots.

Cutting

These roses bloom only once a year in late spring or early summer. Pruned Lady Banks just after the annual bloom before the plant starts to bud the next year. This means that in most areas, pruning usually needs to be done no later than early July.

Lady Banks roses bloom on older wood of 2- or 3-year-old shoots, so they do not require annual pruning other than removing damaged wood.

More info! Pruning too often will remove flowering shoots, leaving no flowers and only leaves.

You can remove the tallest and thickest shoots at ground level to open the center for air circulation. Thinning inside the rose bush improves flowering and minimizes disease problems. Yellow and brown shoots are completely dead, so they are removed at ground level with loppers.

Fast-growing climbing plants can be pruned to shape, however annual pruning is not required.

How to plant a Banksia rose.

When to plant a Banksia rose? It is best to plant in the spring after the last frost has passed. Plant in full sun to light shade. This plant loves the sun, so light time is very important. It can be placed in a place with up to 8 hours of light each day. The leaves turn green and shiny when they absorb enough light. They will grow in shady places, but powdered mold can appear throughout the plant, which affects the condition of the roses.

The rose loves soil rich in organic matter, so well-rotted manure or compost is added before planting. To improve drainage, pebbles are poured into the hole on top of the soil layer to help drain excess water. This will keep the plant from sitting in stagnant moisture, which often leads to mold.

  • Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball.
  • Fill the hole with water, check if the surrounding soil drains freely.
  • Compost is mixed with soil when planting.
  • Add a layer of mulch around the plant to retain moisture but keep it away from the rose stem.

Over time, Lady Banks climbing rose forms a strong tree-like trunk. It may not bloom for the first or two years. In hot climates and during dry periods, regular addition of water may be required.

Rosa Banksia: reproduction

Although roses are propagated using several methods, simple layering is an almost sure way to grow a new rose from a mature, well-established plant. The procedure is most effective and the plant takes root faster during the period of active growth, from spring to early autumn.

Propagation by cuttings

Climbing roses can be propagated by stem cuttings in early autumn, after the flowers have faded.

Pests and diseases

Unlike many types of roses, Banksia roses are largely disease resistant. Lady Banks suffers little from the diseases that commonly affect many roses. If watered too much, it can be subject to fungal root rot if the roots remain in waterlogged soil for a long time. Well-drained soil is essential for the healthy growth of this plant.

Rose Banksia can suffer from powdery mildew in very humid conditions. Mold must be removed. Perhaps the best way to stop the spread of the fungus is to treat roses with Neem oil.