Lady Banks rose is a big, sprawling, rambling shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) and named in 1807 after Dorothea Lady Banks, the wife of Sir Joseph Banks, the great English explorer, botanist, and long-time president of the Royal Society. It is a rapid grower that can reach upwards of 40 feet high. It grows in full sun or partial shade and requires moist, but well-draining, acidic to neutral, loamy soil and good air circulation. Provide sturdy support for the branches to stimulate a sprawling vine. Prune away dead wood. No other pruning is necessary unless you wish to reduce the plant’s size. Prune soon after it blooms. It is evergreen when grown in hardiness zones 8 to10. This species of rose has no prickles (“thorns”). It blooms in midspring to early summer with slightly fragrant, white flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. A yellow cultivar of this species, ‘ Lutea ,’ is also in cultivation. It differs only in its yellow flowers. Site Lady Banks in vertical spaces in coastal gardens or poolside hardscapes. It is also useful as a barrier or privacy screen. Quick ID Hints: Stems are green, prickle-less ("thornless"). Evergreen rambling rose with pinnately compound leaves Many 1-inch, white, double flowers in spring Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Common leaf diseases like black spot and mildew are less problematic for the Lady Banks rose. For full information on common pests and diseases, please see the Rosa page. 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.
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Cascading; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are alternate, pinnately compound, and evergreen. There are 3-7 leaflets (typically 5) that are oblong-lanceolate to elliptic-ovate with serrated margins. They are glabrous above and sometimes downy beneath. Rachis are pubescent. Leaflets are 1.5-2.5 inches long
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Flowers are yellow or white, single to double, slightly fragrant, 1" in diameter, in clusters on short stems. Sepals are 5-lobed, lobes are reflexed, and entire. Blooms in early spring for about a month.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit value
Good Cut
Fruit detail
Fruits are dull red, and are a spherical hip containing many achenes.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Stems are unarmed, green, glabrous, rambling and sprawling.