The rise of the rose

Rose label

Common name: Rose

Botanical name: Rosa spp. and hybrid cultivars

Family: Rosaceae (rose family)

Aspect and soil: Full sun; most soils

Best climate: All

Habit: Perennial shrub, climber

Propagation: Cutting, grafting, potted plants

Difficulty: Medium

SPECIES ROSES

There are more than 100 species roses but mostly it’s named hybrids that are grown in gardens. This is because many species roses form large, sprawling, thorny shrubs that are not ideal garden companions. Most species roses also only flower in spring. Gardeners are accustomed to growing hybrid roses that flower from spring to autumn.

The banksia rose (R. banksiae) is a climbing rose with white or yellow flowers, few thorns and diseaseresistant growth, and is one gardenfriendly species