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Rambling roses do well in informal settings

August 10, 2016

Whatever you dream you can make happen. Ed Schieffelin would wander into the wilds of what is now Arizona "looking for rocks" in the lands of the hostile Chiricahua Apache. The soldiers told him that all he would find there would be his tombstone. 
Ed found silver, and miscellaneously named his first mine The Tombstone. Tombstone, Arizona became a notorious gunslinging, hard fighting town. But here in the land of Boot Hill Cemetery and site of the Shoot Out at the OK Corral lives a gentle giant. Planted in 1885, and still blooming today is a rose bush that now covers 9,000 square feet with a trunk that is 12 feet in diameter. This most beloved rose is the Lady Banks Yellow rambling rose.

Lady Banks roses were first brought from China to England in 1824, and to honor the wife of botanist Sir Joseph Banks. This is a truly old-fashioned rose that blooms just once a season. But what a show it makes, as its one to two-inch wide blooms cover the rambling vines with up to 50,000 flowers on a single bush. Lady Banks blossoms have a light sweet scent similar to violets. 

The almost thornless vines let you plant it near paths or doorways without worry. The garden adage that the first year's a sleeper, the second year a creeper, and the third year a leaper applies to this ancient rose that might not fully bloom until two or three years after planting. 

Because of its great size plan ahead, and give it some sturdy support, a large trellis or rail fence will do. 
You can even thread its vines up in the branches of an open-habit tree. Even when not in bloom, your Lady Banks rose will provide garden interest with its cinnamon red bark. 

As might be expected from a rose that thrives in Arizona, The Lady Banks Rose is drought-tolerant and nearly disease proof. It grows well in USDA climate zones 7 to 10, but can survive in zone 6 with a good winter mulch. 

Like all roses Lady Banks does best in full sun or partial shade. For best results add plenty of organic material such as compost to the rose bed before planting. Make sure the soil drains wells so the roots don't rot. Apply two or three inches of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. If your Lady Banks is attacked by insects try organic insecticidal soap. 
Water regularly after planting until the roots are well established. Once settled in you should only need to water during dry spells. Always water slowly and deeply and try not to get water on the leaves and stems. Fertilize with a good organic rose food once or twice each month. Stop fertilizing in late summer so that new growth can harden off before winter.

Because Lady Banks rose blooms on old wood, be careful when pruning that you leave plenty of older branches for next year’s flowers.

In mild climates this rose will be evergreen but in more northern areas it will drop its leaves in the fall.

Rambling roses do well in informal settings so this is a rose for seaside cottages and informal, rustic gardens. Its decidedly old-fashioned look makes it equally fine as a romantic cover for an arbor or trellis.

Plant a rambling Lady Banks rose and get thousands of violet scented flowers on a vine that might just live over a hundred years. And won’t that be a nice thing to note on your own tombstone.

  • Paul Barbano writes about gardening from his home in Rehoboth Beach. Contact him by writing to P. O. Box 213, Lewes, DE 19958.

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