Banksia Lutea

My Banksia Lutea rose - a yellow Banksia - started life as a small cutting. It was nipped (oops) from a bush I saw on a country garden tour.

My Washing Line Rose

As soon as the rose looked robust I planted it by a pole belonging to the Moosey washing line. The plan was to use the pole as access to the heights of the nearby plum tree.

Hmm... The wires of the washing line proved far too tempting. There's still enough room to hang the sheets and towels on a good drying day - only just - and the Banksia rose has been allowed to take over.

I did try a bit of 'restraint pruning' a few summers ago, and naturally had very few flowers the following spring. This is an old rose which flowers only once.

Lemon Yellow Colour

Banksia Lutea is a beautifully soft lemon yellow colour, and luckily thornless. Imagine the moosey shirts and pillowcases shredded in the late spring breeze! Interestingly the rose petals seem oblivious to wind - they stay put for weeks.

The colour and form of the flowers are both so pretty - I wonder if there is a small bush cottage rose look-alike? I'd like much more of this gentle colour in my rose garden.

A Strong Grower

And what a strong grower this rose is! As I write (November 2005) the stout pole, to which the Moosey washing line is connected, is leaning approximately 20 degrees from the vertical. Eek!

I know that Banksia roses grow large - they are often grown against houses, and their trunks appear quite tree-like. Many of the older colonial homesteads in Canterbury have very old, gnarly specimens.

Enough Support?

My humble pole and plum tree may not quite be able to do the supporting business, but seeing how quickly the rose grows I am confident. If disaster strikes I won't be without this beauty for too long!

White Banksia Rose

There is also a white variety, which I don't grow as yet. Maybe one day - when I find the perfect spot!

In the accompanying photograph of my yellow Banksia rose flowering, I have featured part of the washing line - for reasons of authenticity, you understand.