The rose is native to central China and can be found up to 2000 meters altitude. She has been in cultivation for centuries and was in high regard of the Chinese emperors.
Botanist Joseph Banks bought a plant in the famous nursery of Fa Tee in the Kanton region. He immediately named her after his wife hence Lady Banks. It's how she came to Europe. The Latin name is Rosa Banksiae Lutea
It's an immensely vigorous plant with small evergreen foliage and very little thorns. She can reach gigantic proportions and one specimen, in the USA, is supposed to be one of the biggest roses in the world, only rivaled by Kiftsgate at Kiftsgate manor. She can however be constraint and used for pergola's, gazebos etc...
If you have the space and you let her go she can cover big walls, large trees etc..
She can reach between 6 and 25 meters or 18 and 75 feet.
Flowers are smell, Sulphur yellow and pompon shaped. They smell of violets. They appear with the thousands and will cover the entire rose. A sight to behold. Don't prune if you don't need to
Lady Banks isn't that Hardy but can certainly grow in zones 6b up to 10b. She's completely Hardy in Western and Southern Europe and Southern USA and Australia of course.
She does need a very sunny, warm spot to develop the best. Rain, heat and drought resistant.
In the Northern hemisphere she's one of the most early blooming roses as she begins end of April and early May
A very unusual rose but one of the great Ladies in rose cultivation. A grand old lady for sure!
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