Rosa banksiae var. banksiae 'Alba Plena' - Hybrid Banksia - Rambling Rose

The 'Alba Plena' Banksia Rose is a variety of the Lady Banksia Rose with small, double, cream-white flowers that are pleasantly scented. This vigorous liana has few thorns and only blooms once, in May, in such abundance that its bouquets sometimes hide its lush vegetation, woven with small, bright green, shiny and particularly healthy leaves. Like its brother 'Lutea', this rose is the pride of Mediterranean-style gardens and requires warmth and sunlight to thrive fully.  It enjoys invading trees and creeping into hedges, where it expresses its formidable conquering vigour.

The Rosa banksia, also known as the May Rose, is a botanical species native to dry and mountainous subtropical regions in central and western China, at altitudes ranging from 500 to 2200 metres (1640 to 7218 feet). Therefore, this vigorous climbing rose appreciates warm climates, even those 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. The banksia var. banksia rose, which bears semi-double to double, non-scented flowers without stamens, has been cultivated for centuries in Chinese gardens. Its 'Albo Plena' form offers the advantage of a highly fragrant flowering.

The Banksia rose is a climbing plant that grows quickly, especially in mild climates. An aged plant can grow over 12 meters (39 feet) high and its base can occupy 6 metres (20 feet) on the ground. The young, flexible stems grow quickly after flowering and can reach over 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) in a season. If left unchecked, the Banksia rose will display a monumental fountain-like shape.

The Banksia rose produces countless bouquets of small, double, cream-white pompon-shaped flowers on 1-year-old branches. It starts flowering in April in highly protected areas and in May or June in warmer climates. Its foliage is evergreen to semi-evergreen, with three narrow and short leaflets that are bright and shiny green. However, the plant is sometimes prone to mildew when conditions are very hot and dry, but its robust health enables it to get rid of this disease on its own. The young leaves of the Banksia rose have a slightly coppery hue.

To support its long and flexible stems, the Banksia rose needs a sheltered support that is protected from cold winds. The smooth bark of the plant gradually transforms into rough strips revealing orange-ochre undersides as the plant ages.

This rose thrives in mild climates sheltered from violent winds that can dry out its flower buds. A real boon for dry gardens and mediocre soils, even slightly chalky ones, its extraordinary vegetation conquers trees and metamorphoses and elegantly dresses a trellis or a large wall from January to December. In hotter gardens, it will provide perfect shade on a large south-facing arbour. Easy to maintain, the plant requires no watering or treatments once well established. While it is incredibly frugal and sober, it should benefit from the shelter of a wall outside the olive tree zone and maximum sunlight to induce its fabulous flowering. The 'Alba Plena' Banksia Rose can be paired with a summer-flowering clematis or a blue passionflower to have a blooming wall all summer. It can also be paired with an evergreen ceanothus, all blue in spring, a Syringa microphylla Superba or a Rosa chinensis mutabilis with multicoloured blooms.