Roses (Rosa sp.)

            We know the Steins had a rose garden north of the house.  All the roses planted at the Farm are of old varieties they could have had.  One is a Lady Banks.  (For a plant you won't believe, Google: Lady Banks rose, Tombstone!)  Two of our plants may have been planted by the Steins: One is a single flowering variety called Cherokee, and the other is a pink one we don't know the name of.  Both are located on the eastern part of the property near the fence.

Rosa banksiae, commonly referred to as the Lady Banks' Rose, is a species of Rosa native to central and western China, in the provinces of Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Yunnan; it grows in mountains at altitudes of 500-2200 m.

It is a scrambling shrubby liana growing vigorously over other shrubs to 6 m tall. Unlike most roses, it is practically thornless, though may bear some prickles up to 5 mm long, particularly on stout, strong shoots. The leaves are evergreen, 4-6 cm long, with three to five (rarely seven) leaflets 2-5 cm long with a serrated margin. The flowers are small, 1.5-2.5 cm diameter, white or pale yellow.

There are two varieties:

• Rosa banksiae var. banksiae. Flowers semi-double or double, with numerous petals replacing most or all of the stamens; a cultigen developed in Chinese gardens.
• Rosa banksiae var. normalis Regel. Flowers single, with five petals; the natural wild form of the species.

The rose is named after Lady Banks, the wife of the eminent botanist Sir Joseph Banks (after whom the Banks Peninsula is named).

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Last modified: July 25, 2008