Yellow Climbing Rose

The Yellow Climbing Rose (Rosa banksiae 'Lutea'), the Lady Banks rose, is the climbing rose for people who think they cannot grow roses. It is completely thornless, immune to most of the fuss that plagues modern roses, and in spring it disappears under thousands of small butter yellow rosettes. Give it a solid structure: this is a genuine 6m climber that can spread 4m or more, dressing a pergola, carport or long fence in a single wave of colour.

Why you'll love it

• Not a thorn on it. Trainable bare handed, safe beside paths, gates and play areas, and one of the few roses we class as pet friendly.
• A spring flowering event. The single massed flush smothers every cane in small double yellow blooms, one of the great sights of an Australian spring garden.
• Tough beyond any bush rose. Frost hardy, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and happy in poor soil once established, with strong resistance to black spot.
• Fast cover. Expect metres of growth a year; a bare fence becomes a green wall in two seasons.
• Bee and butterfly friendly. The open flowers hum with early season pollinators.

Where it works best

Pergolas, arches and carports. Its natural scale suits big structures. Plant 3m apart to clothe a long run; one plant covers a standard pergola.

Screening on strong fences. Trained along wires it makes a dense leafy screen with the bonus of the spring display.

Retaining walls and slopes. Unsupported, it cascades beautifully down a bank or over a high wall.

Growing the Lady Banks Rose in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the heaviest flowering. It performs from the subtropics through warm and cool temperate and Mediterranean climates, and laughs at frost.

Soil. Any drained soil, including poor ones. Compost at planting helps it launch.

Water and feed. Water deeply weekly through the first summer, then it is largely self sufficient. Feed with a rose or all purpose controlled release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. The one rule that matters: it flowers on older wood, so prune straight after the spring flush, never in winter. Winter pruning removes the coming spring's flowers. Otherwise just tie in new canes and remove what outgrows the space.

What to expect when it arrives

Currently sold as tubestock, the ideal way to start a banksia rose: a healthy young plant that establishes fast and grows metres in its first full season. It arrives well rooted and travels easily. Delivery is Australia wide, from $29.95,, so pair it with the rest of a garden order. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Plant against its final structure from day one; it resents relocation once away.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full rose range
• More climbing plants for fences and pergolas
• Plants safe for pets

Common questions

Does it really have no thorns?

Genuinely thornless canes, which is rare in a climbing rose. You can train and prune it bare handed, and it is safe leaning over a footpath or school fence.

Does it flower more than once?

No. It gives one huge flush in spring, typically over three to four weeks, then serves as a handsome green climber for the rest of the year. Plan for it the way you would a wisteria.

Why did I get no flowers this year?

Almost always winter pruning. The flowers form on wood grown the previous season, so cut only after flowering finishes and the next flush is safe.

Will it damage my fence?

It has no suckers or clinging roots; it scrambles over what it is given. The weight of a mature plant is real, so give it a sound fence, wires or a pergola rather than trellis panels.