Look at http://asgap.org.au/APOL31/sep03-5.html, but remember that the larger the flowers the less suitable for bonsai the shrub will be.

Isn't he the one who climbed the Himalayan mountains to get white 'Easter' lilies and suffered a broken leg from a boulder that rolled down on him? Quite an adventurer! Wonder if he left a diary or if there is a book about his plant collecting trips? He did! "published several books: Three Years Wanderings in the Northern Provinces in China (1847), A Journey to the Tea Districts of China (1852), A Residence among the Chinese: Inland, On the Coast and at Sea (1857)" Also he brought back Rosa Fortuniana which is used as a root stock for southern roses as well as being a beautiful rose itself. I didn't know he introduced Rosa banksiae to the west. What a guy! Thanks for the post! Here is a link that might be useful: Link to Wikipedia on Robert Fortune ...

There are three possible causes: 1. salt damage caused by water being too salty which could be at this time of the year depending on its source, or fertilizers 2. poor drainage 3. fertilizer containing too much phosphorus. A possible solution is to deep water, flushing the salts from the root zone, allowing the soil to dry a little before the next watering. Deep watering less often is preferable to frequent light waterings. Hold off the fertilizing until autumn, only use one that is suitable for native plants with minimum phosphorus. If the drainage is an issue plan to dig the plant up and replant in a raised mound. Pick a cooler run of weather to do this.

good morning all and Happy Easter. Your input has convinced me I have Fortuniana. Despite my efforts this a.m. pics aren't better. Couldn't get close enough either to smell. I did observed that the thorns are in 2" increments and not as killer as Autumn Damask but almost as hurtful. Only the baby branches are thornless. I marked one with a string so I can tell later if it develops thorns. I had to limb it up so DH could mowe unscathed. Why isn't that the roses you don't care for are the ones that do best with neglect? Suspecting that this wasn't what I wanted, I never give it any attention but it lives on, and well, shall I say, ha. I really really wanted a b. lutea b/c yellow is DH fave color but I wont remove this one. Will just have to wait for other real estate to clear up, sigh. Thanks for your help. ETA I do have a Lady Banks on another section of garden, lovely and thornless. The two roses are different.