Wednesday 9 July 2014
Rosa banksiae, common names Lady Banks' Rose, Tombstone Roses or just Banks' rose, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family, native to central and western China, in the provinces of Gansu, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan and Yunnan, at altitudes of 500 to 2,200 m. It is a scrambling shrubby vine growing vigorously to 6 m tall. Unlike most roses, it is practically thornless, though it may bear some prickles up to 5 mm long, particularly on stout, strong shoots. The leaves are evergreen, 4 to 6 cm long, with three to five (rarely seven) leaflets 2 to 5 cm long with a serrated margin. The flowers are small, 1.5 to 2.5 cm diameter, white or pale yellow. It is amongst the earliest flowering of all roses, usually appearing during May in the northern hemisphere, though cold weather can delay flowering. All Lady Banks' roses are said to smell of violets to varying degrees. Source
