Northwest Blooms · Roses
Rosa 'Sally Holmes'
Sally Holmes Rose
- Rose type
- Shrub
- Height
- 6 to 12 feet
- Bloom size
- Large (3.5–5 in)
- Flower color
- Creamy white with apricot or pink-tinged buds, yellow stamens
- Fragrance
- Mild
About this plant
Rosa 'Sally Holmes' is a hybrid musk shrub rose that bears large single creamy-white blooms with a golden eye, produced in generous clusters from late spring through fall. The lightly musky fragrance drifts from the flowers, which open atop glossy dark green, nearly thornless canes. Mature plants display a vigorous, arching habit that can be trained as a climber or allowed to form a spreading shrub. Its repeat-flowering nature ensures a steady display, while the clean foliage supports pollinators and enhances its ornamental appeal.
Bred in the United Kingdom by Robert A. Holmes in 1976, this rose is a cross of 'Ivory Fashion' and 'Ballerina' and has received notable distinctions including Portland Gold Medal (1993) and induction into the Rose Hall of Fame (2012). Celebrated for its robustness and seasonal richness, it remains a beloved choice for classic and mixed garden settings.
Planting & care
Roses reward a sunny, open site with at least six hours of direct light, good air movement, and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Water deeply and less often, soaking the root zone while keeping the leaves dry, and mulch with two to three inches of compost or shredded bark held back from the canes. Feed repeat-blooming roses in early spring as growth starts and again after the first flush, then prune in late winter to remove dead or crossing canes and open the center. Shrub roses need only light thinning, keeping their natural full shape and repeat bloom.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at the Peninsula Park Rose Garden.
