Mermaid is a hybrid climber in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred in 1906 by English horticulturist William Paul and Son. Parentage is Rosa bracteata x unnamed tea. This vigorous climber will grow 15-25 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide and is evergreen in milder climates. Although somewhat shade-tolerant, growing in full sun will produce the best flowers while providing some disease resistance. Plant in amended, moist, well-drained garden soil. The single bright yellow fragrant flowers have prominent stamens and appear nearly continuously from summer through fall. They stand out well against the glossy dark green leaves. The canes have many large, hooked prickles. Received the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. Use this rose on any vertical surface. It can be used as a hedge or screening for privacy. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: watch for black spot, powdery mildew and rust. See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheLonicera x browniiRosa 'Joseph' s Coat'Rosa 'Mary Wallace'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Rose
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Semi-evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark green, glossy foliage.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Pale yellow petals with yellow stamens. Large single 4 to 5 in. flowers have 5-7 petals. This repeat bloomer will flower throughout summer into fall.