Climbing Tea
Sport of Lady Hillingdon
Lady Hillingdon (bush) is one of the most beautiful roses ever. Her parents were Papa Gontier X Madame Hoste with Madame Hoste being a descendant of Safrano. The climbing sport was discovered in 1911 by Hicks and I will discuss this form because Lady Hillingdon climbing is superior to the bush form.
Large, buttery golden yellow petals opening to loosely formed double blooms. They have a very strong refreshing Tea fragrance. Mostly they stand in small clusters which appear very freely all summer long. Hillingdon almost has no thorns and her very slender stems are reddish of color. It's a vigorous baby which can reach up to 5 meters or 17 feet making it one of the largest climbing Teas. She's quite Hardy, more than other Teas and can withstand zone 6b and warmer.
Although she loves full sun she's also very suitable for Northern facing walls. She hates her roots being in full sun in winter as the freezing and thaw can kill her. Once she's established she'll give you a spectacle for years. Always blooming, good disease resistance and as good as thornless. Use her against an Northern or Eastern facing wall. Southern wall is good but mind the roots, they love some shade. She's suitable as a tree grower and can cover a small construction in the garden.
One of my favorites roses!
