Good Afternoon, Lady Banks!

The Lady Banks Yellow Rose (Rosa banksiae 'Lutea') will be blooming soon, and I am so excited! It was a new addition to the garden last spring; I bought it at the Tryon Palace Heritage Plant Sale just after it had finished blooming.

The Lady Banks Rose is a species rose--generally defined as those roses found in nature. Most species roses tend to be very vigorous and are extremely disease resistant. They are a good choice for naturalizing and will often grow well without attention if planted properly and given minimal care during the first year or so of their establishment.

Although many are climbers, with a minimum of pruning and training they can be grown as hefty shrubs. This old garden rose was introduced into European commerce prior to 1796, but was grown for centuries in China.

I am growing my Lady Banks Rose along our picket fence that faces the street. I have had to prune it three times since it was planted because it grows so quickly.