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Lady Banks Rose Update
By: Julie Day 
Seems pretty tame, except I just pruned her a couple of days ago.
In Growing a Lady Banks Rose, I told how I planted a Lady Banks on my porch column last summer. It’s been a full year old now, and I thought I’d provide an update, in case any of you are considering doing the same.
My Lady Banks rose is planted in mostly full sun, with a southern exposure tempered by some tall trees. It’s smack-dab under the gutter downspout, so I only water it in extreme drought. I haven’t really done anything to it—it’s had no pests or diseases, no fertilizer, and the spring blooms were heavenly, simply heavenly.
It’s perfect – EXCEPT, good grief, is this thing a fast grower! It’s growing faster than I can keep up with it! By midsummer, it was growing up the gable, reaching for the peak of the porch roof. Every morning, new tentacles reach out and grab me as I walk past – it’s like living with a hungry octopus on the porch.
I’m always going out there to remove entangled wind chimes or houseguests. I prune it at least once a week, and sometimes twice, and it just seems to speed up! I don’t regret planting it near the house, but it certainly could possibly be better put to use to quickly conceal an ugly barn, or as a substitute for the proverbial beanstalk.
All in all, I think this is one of the most perfect plants ever. The foliage is really pretty by itself, and the blooms will simply make your heart melt with joy. It’s tough, disease-resistant, evergreen, thornless, and carefree – except for the occasional wrestling match (I mean, pruning).
Plant a Lady Banks where she can go wild, then just sit back and watch her grow!
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6 Comments on “Lady Banks Rose Update”
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June 26th, 2010 at 12:59 am
Have just read your article and was very interesting. We have just planted one in our church parking lot, and you gave me a lot of facts, which I don’t think we knew about. Wanted to get one for my home, but can’t seem to find where I can get one, and the lady who bought the church’s can not remember where she got it. Would appreciate if you could let me know where I could obtain a plant. Have checked the internet, only one site had it, but was out of it. Can I start a plant from a branch that we cut, but not sure how to start it to root. Hope to hear from you. Your site is on my favorites now, I understand your down to earth reports.
Thank you, Donna
August 23rd, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Hi Donna – Just wanted to share with you that I found a yellow lady banks at Lowe’s. I checked everywhere else – nursery’s and Home Depot – Lowe’s was the only one to have it.
February 9th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
I too am a huge fan of the Lady Banks rose… I am only sad that it blooms once a year… oh but what a display! For those who are in the zones where it florishes think about planting clemitis underneath it… they like shady roots and you’ll definitely have that with this rose, the more vigorous clemitis the better, it takes a lot to keep up with the growth on this rose, but it’ll give you another punch of color when the Lady is finished with her show.
March 12th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
My Lady Banks rose bush has been planted for three yeras and still has not bloomed. It gets new leaves every spring and looks very healty…but no flowers. I put Bloom Booster on it last year…still nothing. Ant suggestions?
March 16th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
I bought two Lady Banks rose bushes two years ago. They have grown in size but haven’t bloomed yet.
August 21st, 2011 at 1:20 pm
I planted 6 Lady Banks rose bushes in early Spring and thus far have not seen a single abloom but lots of foliage. I live in the Washington DC area. Any advice please?