Rosa Banksiae Rosea Pink Rambling Rose

Rosa banksiae Rosea or Banks’ Rose Rosea, also Pink Rambling Rose is a species of rambling rose, originating from China. It is the pink flowering variety of the standard white Rosa Banksiae. Rosea grows mainly as a perennial, best grown over a period of more than 3 years. Pink Rambling Rose is known for its shrub habit, usually growing to about 2.0 metres.

Rambling roses are different than climbing roses. Their blooms usually cluster in groups of seven whereas climbing roses tend to have clusters in fives. Similarly, their leaves are in groups of seven vs five for the climbers. The other difference is that they only flower once. The Banksia Rose is an example of this. There are exceptions with the Malvern Hills and Snow Goose ramblers, which will flower repeatedly. Climbing Roses will always flower repeatedly through the season. Rambling roses also have more flexible canes, making them better suited to train over archways or pergolas or around tree trunks or even lay across the ground as a beautiful ground cover. Ramblers also have very few thorns.

When the Rosa Banksiae Rosea does flower, however, it has an amazing mass of pink blooming colour that is uniquely its own. The small to medium sized flowers are held in large bunches and they send strong, though lax stems from the ground. The Rosa Banksiae is known for a more shrub like habit, usually reaching about 2.0 metres in ultimate height. It’s considered a fairly vigorous rambler.

Rambling Roses like the Rosa banksiae do require some maintenance and attention to detail with your planting location. Hardy to Zone H5 in the UK and Ireland, you should choose a site with full to partial sun with Aspects from East to South to West in order of best choices. The soil should be well drained, but moist. Ideally, the soil should be moderately fertile, with plenty of humus. A loamy soil with weakly acid pH is optimum, between 5.5-6.5 is best. For best flowering, apply a balanced fertiliser and mulch in late winter or early spring. Protect your ramblers from cold, drying winds and frost.

Unlike other ramblers, Rosa Banksiae Rosea maintains a more shrub like habit, whereas some ramblers can grow to 12 metres or more! The best application for the Rosa banksiae Rosea will usually be as a wall side border, in city and courtyard gardens; or in cottage and informal gardens. They look wonderful when allowed to just ramble along the ground as a cover as well!