Can you think of a group of roses with this profile: universally healthy, beautiful foliage, disease and bug resistant, long life, profuse blooms, and drought resistant? I would nominate those in the Banksia family.There are five popular members of this rose group, a few related species, and a new hybrid. Although many rosarians are afraid of their size and rampant growth, they can be garden friendly roses.They do best in mild or warm climates.

Driving up and down the length of California in the spring one will see R. banksias lutea hanging on telephone poles, climbing trees, covering barns, and decorating roofs. It is the easiest to grow, and has the same health and vigor as its relatives.Although this rose can climb a tall tree in a short time, I have seen it grown on fences and as a groundcover, easily tamed.

The yellow blossoms are small and fully double, with little scent, and it has few prickles.The canes are thin and like the others easily trained. Once in gear, it can go on forever. Mine is climbing an Alnus cordata and will soon cover the thirty-foot tree. It is a cultivated variety of unknown origin – brought to Europe by John Parks in 1824. It is the earliest to flower and is hardy down to -5C/23F as are all the rest.

I should point out here that this and the double white form are often referred to as 'The Lady Banks Rose', although the white one has priority for the title. It is named for the wife of Sir Joseph Banks, founder of the Royal Horticultural Society. I was born close to the town of Tombstone, Arizona, and this former notorious place has gained fame with the O.K. Corral shootout – but also for the world's largest rose tree – R. banksiae banksiae which covers 8000 square feet and is 120 years old. Each April it is the excuse for a rose parade and a basket lunch auction.

There is a single yellow form, R.lutescens; although far from popular with only seven nurseries in the world offering it, it should be more popular. Mine grows on a pergola in shade, and the light yellow, fragrant blossoms fall in long, thin canes for several weeks, lighting up that part of the garden and looking like a Japanese print.

The single white, the true species, is R. banksia normalis, which comes from central and western China. When it was introduced into Europe, it was first planted in Scotland but never bloomed. In 1905 cuttings were taken to the Riviera, where it was finally identified. Mine is behaving itself, but I have seen it growing as high as 15 meters. It has few prickles, and the single flowers have a perfume of violets.

The double white form, R. banksiae banksiae,has smooth stems, and produces dense clusters of fragrant, double blooms. William Kerr introduced it to England in 1807, and it is a strong, healthy, vigorous plant that is especially good for climbing a tree at the end of the garden.

Next in line comes R. x fortuniana, frequently misspelled with an e for the i. It is not a species, and maybe someday listings will simply say 'Fortuniana'. Robert Fortune discovered it in a Chinese garden around 1850, and it is thought to be a cross between R. banksiae and R. laevigata. It is rampant, with fragrant double flowers, and few prickles. It is used as rootstock in such places as humid Florida.

R. cymosa has been known by a number of other names, including R. microcarpa (small hips). It grows extensively in China, but is found elsewhere only in a few botanic gardens. It has small, white, fragrant single blooms with prominent stamens. It is deciduous, blooms later than most species, and is best in moist soil.

'Purezza' is a reblooming modern hybrid raised by Mansuino in Italy in 1961: 'Tom Thumb' x R. banksiae banksiae. It is a moderate climber that produces small double blooms, and blossoms over a long period if not pruned after it has been growing for 2-3 years. Also known as 'The Pearl' it has become increasingly popular in the United States. A magnificent example of it can be found at the garden of Prof. Fineschi at Cavriglia in Italy; a few peacocks love to roost in it.

R. banksiae x R.gigantea is assumed to be the parentage of a beautiful rose growing in a private garden on the Riviera since 1966. As a shrub it grows to about five feet, producing single blooms that cover cascading branches. There is no scent.

Finally, a modern hybrid produced by Robert N. Rippetoe: 'Lilac Charm' x (R. banksiae banksiae x 'Old Blush'). He has named it 'Lila Banks'. The pink blooms have no scent, but the low-growing bush reblooms during the season.

Most of these roses cannot stand a hard frost, although if they are in protected areas (in my garden under and in trees) they will survive if the cold period does not persist. I rarely prune them as they do bloom on old wood. People who train them in fences, on berms, and as groundcover praise their drought tolerance and resistance to any disease or bugs. I have not fertilized nor watered mine in years, and they are all happy and well.