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The Oz Garden Gallery

Busy Bees

19 years ago

I was given a climbing rose as a gift. I trained it across our fenceline on the western boundary and was very disappointed with its first bloom until my neighbour asked me over to show me something. The most glorious blooms all on her side of the fence with bees everywhere. The noise was unbelievable. The whole fence line was covered in blooms and bees. I have lost the tag but I think it was "Ye Olde English" or something along those lines. It only flowers in spring and has deep green glossy leaves with lots and lots of thorns. Could you please let me know if you can verify the name of this rose.

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Comments (4)

TonyfromOz
19 years ago
I think you have the Macartney Rosa, Rosa bracteata. It's an evergreen that thrives in subtropical climates and was once used for hedges in north-coastal NSW - can mound up to about 3m high and 5m or more wide, with exceptionally strong thorns.

"Olde English" is misleading, as this species is from southern China, though introduced to England in 1793 by the Lord Macartney who led the first British embassy to China.
TonyfromOz
19 years ago
Sorry I meant to type "Macartney Rose" (not Rosa) as the common name.
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Kiwi_oz
19 years ago
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gw:toota_jode
19 years ago
Thanks for your replies. I am not sure that it is the Macartney rose though. The Macartney foliage seems to take more a symetrical growth whereas this rose has alternate leaf buds with large spaced leaves. The leaves are very glossy and soft. I wouldn't call the growth dense by any means, although I have trained the canes horizontally along the fence. It has spread about 15 metres and is only restricted by my pruning. It only flowers in spring for a 2 week period and the buds are hairy before the flower opens. It is very thorny but worth it after the show once a year. Thanks for your thoughts though.

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