SCIENTIFIC NAME: Rosa banksiae banksiae

COMMON NAME: Alba Plena / White Lady Banks Climbing Rose

GARDEN SIZE: 10-20 feet tall x 10-20 feet wide as a freestanding shrub; up to 30 feet tall as a climber; can be kept smaller with pruning. Provide support to encourage upward growth.

GROWTH RATE: Fast

USDA ZONE: 6b-10b

EXPOSURE: Full sun to partial shade

WATER & SOIL: Medium, consistent water; avoid wetting leaves when possible. Prefers well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil with plenty of organic matter.

HABIT (FORM): Climbing, spreading

FOLIAGE: Glossy, medium green leaves made up of 3-7 leaflets. Evergreen in USDA Zones 8-10; semi-evergreen in cooler regions including the Nashville, TN area. Thornless or nearly thornless.

FLOWER COLOR: White

FLOWER FORM: Double, cupped

PETAL COUNT: 16-25 petals

FLOWER SIZE: 1.5-2 inches

BLOOM TIME: Spring

REBLOOMING: No

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT: Clusters

FRAGRANCE: Slight violet-like scent

PLANT ORIGIN: Central and Western China

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: Limited - Most roses have little utility as hosts for local insects and wildlife, since they are heavily hybridized plants from other parts of the world. Flowers may provide food for pollinators while blooming.

FERTILIZING: Fertilize monthly during spring and summer by top-dressing with compost or applying any nitrogen-rich fertilizer. Stop fertilizing in fall to allow the plant to go dormant for winter.

PRUNING: Climbing roses tend to require less pruning than other roses, especially if you want your climber to grow tall. Prune reblooming varieties in late winter or early spring while dormant, and remove spent blooms during the growing season to encourage reblooming. For single blooming varieties, prune just after flowering to avoid removing next year’s flower buds. When pruning, remove dead branches and older canes that no longer produce flowers. Keep in mind that climbing roses don’t naturally cling to walls, so you'll need to fasten the canes to a support structure such as a trellis or arbor. Place supports at least a few inches away from walls to promote airflow. For more detailed advice on pruning and shaping roses, many helpful resources are available online.

TOXICITY FLAGS: Roses are non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Ingesting too much plant matter may cause mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Thorns can create small cuts if your pet rubs against them, and can damage the digestive tract if eaten. Remember to also check the safety of any fertilizers or pesticides used on your roses.

USES: Ornamental specimen that climbs arbors, trellises, and walls; Cut flowers

DISEASE PREVENTION: Fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew can be a persistent nuisance for Middle Tennessee rose growers. Here are some tips to limit fungal infections:

Avoid letting water sit on the leaves when possible. Water around the base of the plant rather than getting the leaves wet (though nature sometimes has its own plans).

Always use clean tools. Disinfect pruners between every cut using rubbing alcohol or a 10% bleach solution (i.e. 1 ounce bleach + 9 ounces water).

Space roses to promote good airflow and reduce the risk of disease transmission from one plant to the next.

Regularly remove fallen leaves and debris from around the base of the plant. Replace winter mulch in spring.

In late winter, coat the entire plant with dormant oil to suffocate pests and control diseases.

If you have persistent problems with fungal diseases, consider regular applications of an anti-fungal spray like copper fungicide or neem oil as a preventative measure.

Another rose pathogen to keep on your radar is Rose Rosette Disease. Caused by a virus and spread by microscopic mites, it currently has no known cure. Symptoms include deformed, reddish new leaves, excessive thorn production, and stunted growth. If your rose bush is infected, immediately remove, bag, and dispose of the entire plant to contain the spread of infection.

PARENTAGE: Unknown; brought to Europe from China in 1807

HISTORY: Likely cultivated in China for centuries, Lady Banks roses were first brought to Europe in 1807 by Englishman William Kerr, who was sent on a plant-finding expedition by an English botanist named Sir Joseph Banks. Kerr found the white climbing rose at Fa-Tee, a renowned plant nursery in former Canton, now Guangzhou. Banks gave the specimen its Western name in honor of his wife, Dorothea Lady Banks. The white 'Alba Plena' variety was the first Lady Banks rose brought to Europe, followed by the yellow variant, R. banksiae ‘Lutea’, in 1824.