Banksia Climbing Rose
Early in the Moosey garden's history the fence by the woodshed was planted with pink roses, in a very narrow border. I planted a yellow climbing rose, Banksia Lutea at one end, by the washing line. Such a tiny thing, cutting-grown...
Banksia Rose and the Washing Line
The Banksia rose first decided to cover the fence and the washing line, rather than climb up and over the plum tree, as was intended. Then one spring day while hanging out the washing I looked up - and saw all the flowers, high in the tree. Obviously the rose was heading into the sunshine.
Banksia Rose
Banksia Lutea caused no problems for years, and I looked forward to its soft yellow flowers which were the prelude to spring. It was one of the very first roses to flower. But then it brought down part of the washing line. And later on there was an enormous crash - the old plum tree was also down.
Banksia Lutea - Spring 2010
A robust rose...
Bankia lutea had made such a huge amount of growth, so quickly - from sprig to giant in just sixteen years. As with its host tree, I had to deconstruct everything, chopping the rose right back to its trunk. Of course it resprouted vigorously the following spring.
Banksias are thornless roses, making them pleasant to walk under, or pick branches from. There's also a white flowering variety, but I don't grow it. I doubt that I'd have any room!
In the Beginning...
Originally I'd planted two pink climbing roses nearby - Bantry Bay and Gerbe Rose. All should have been well, but they soon became far too shaded and squashed.
This next picture shows my first pink rose plantings in full flower. It was taken in the early days when the Banksia was still tiny, and there was enough space to share.
bantry bay and gerbe rose - from the archives
Things have changed so much since then, and I haven't seen any pink rose flowers for years. But the Banksia lives on, growing fatter and taller every year. I'm wise to its tendencies now.