The Vintage Rosery
Needville, Texas
www.VintageRosery.com
Unless otherwise noted, all photographs were taken of the roses in our gardens located in Needville, Texas (zone 8b.)
R. mulliganii
Rambler
1919
We first saw photos of this rose at a seminar and began our search to obtain one. It was so small when it arrived, we were not sure it was the right variety. The photo's showed it to be large and vigorous. We planted it next to a covered bridge and was amazed how well it did.
The first season, it was covered in clusters of white blooms. Once it stopped blooming, it started to grow. It is apparently not as vigorous here in Texas as when grown in England.
This was descovered in England in 1919 by Bryan Mulligan. The literature states there is a strong frangrance, similar to sweet bananas. We can detect the sweetness, but the bananas cannot be found. It blooms only once in the Spring for just a few weeks.
It is a show stopper with or without blooms. We love it.
After two seasons, 'Rosa mulliganii' now spans our 35 foot bridge and is growing above and below the portals. It also wraps around the opposite side and has started across the water over there as well.