Rosa banksiae Lutescens - rambler rose

Rosa banksiae 'Lutescens' is an exceptional and vigorous rambling rose with simple and fragrant flowers, capable of covering a pergola in 4 or 5 years. This giant is completely thornless and flowers remarkably early, sometimes starting in March in mild climates. This flowering is exceptional, the plant disappears under thousands of small simple, canary yellow roses, like wild rose flowers. This rose is more resistant to cold than it seems and drought-tolerant in a sheltered and sunny location.

Rosa banksiae is a botanical species native to dry and mountainous subtropical regions in central and western China, at altitudes between 500 and 2200 metres (1640 and 7218 feet).  This vigorous rambling rose therefore likes hot climates, even dry in summer. Its species name, banksiae, is dedicated to Lady Banks, wife of the famous botanist Sir Joseph Banks who brought it back from his expeditions in China, along with new chrysanthemums and many other plants still unknown in Europe. There are only two subspecies of this rose, and very few hybrids, as the plant is quite resistant to cross-breeding. Rosa bansiae 'Lutescens' is the wild form still found in China.

The growth of this woody climbing rose is impressive: an old stem can reach over 12m (39ft) in height, with the base easily occupying 6m (20ft) on the ground. Its growth is very rapid: the young, very flexible, spring-green stems develop like giant asparagus after flowering; they can grow over 3 to 4m (10 to 13ft) in one season. If left to grow freely, this rose will have a monumental fountain-like shape. The vegetation of this rose is completely thornless, which aids pruning or shaping. Flowering begins earlier or later depending on the climate, from February in a very protected zone to May-June elsewhere. It is the 1-year-old branches that produce countless bunches of 4 to 15 small flowers (2cm (1in)), single, pale yellow and fragrant. The evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage, divided into 3 narrow and short leaflets, is a bright, glossy green. It is sometimes subject to mildew when conditions are very hot and dry, but the plant is robust and will generally overcome this disease on its own. The young leaves of this rose are slightly coppery. The long flexible stems should be tied to a support, sheltered from cold winds. The smooth bark gradually transforms into rough strips revealing ochre-orange undersides, on an old plant.

This rose astonishes and fascinates people when they see it for the first time, "is it really a rose? But everyone knows roses only bloom in summer, at most in late spring". Rosa banksiae Lutescens likes to invade trees or slip between trees in a hedge, where it shows its formidable vigour. Its extraordinary vegetation elegantly dresses a fence or a wall, from January to December in a sheltered location or mild climate. In the south, it will provide shade on a large south-facing pergola. It is easy to maintain, usually grown on its own roots, and requires no watering or special care once well established. While it is undemanding and drought-tolerant, it will need the shelter of a wall in cooler regions and maximum sunlight to induce its fabulous flowering. We know of a 120-year-old specimen that still faithfully blooms (sometimes as early as February) in a garden near Montpellier. The Banks' rose can be grown with a summer-flowering clematis to provide flowers all summer.