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Among the dross and detritus of rose breeding fashion, there have always been a few great characters that transcend style. This one has been welcome in the garden
for many years, and will be for many to come. The tiny yellow flowers burst out when spring is still unsullied by summery senility, and are gone with graceful tact before there is any chance of them
showing up the raucous blowsiness of the bedding roses. Given an Award of Merit in 1960 by the RHS, the associated note says: "The 'Yellow Banksian Rose' is a vigorous climber, easily reaching 20 feet in a suitable situation and has long been known and valued in gardens for its numerous, early, double yellow flowers which are freely produced in clusters on long arching, branches during May. The individual leaves consist of 3 or 5 ovate-elliptic leafets about 1 1/2 inches long with serrulate margins. The double flowers are about 1 inch across and near to Chrome Yellow (605/1 - 605/2) in colour, but have little or no scent." San Marcos Growers in California say: "Rosa banksiae 'Lutea' was officially introduced in 1824 from China by John Parks but apparently had been observed growing in a Botanic Garden in Calcutta prior to this. Thought to be the hardiest of the Rosa banksiae cultivars, although some think it may be an ancient hybrid with a Tea Rose. We have grown this attractive rose since 1981 and a large specimen of it can be seen in our nursery clambering up a blue gum along the back fence." |
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| 21st May 2006 | ||
