Thornless Roses
Roses and thorns seem inseparable, but several beautiful varieties have grown nearly or entirely thorn-free — no gloves required.
Banksia and Zéphirine Drouhin
The Banksia rose, introduced at Kew Gardens roughly 200 years ago, is a free-rambling climber with yellow double blooms that put on a spectacular show in early fall — prune it right after flowering rather than in winter, since next year's blooms form on this season's wood. It's largely disease-resistant and needs little fungicide or fertilizer. Zéphirine Drouhin, named for the wife of a French rose enthusiast, is a fragrant Bourbon climber reaching 10 to 12 feet, with large dark pink blooms from May until first frost. It tolerates shade better than most roses but needs good air circulation and full sun to resist black spot, mildew, and rust.
Smooth Buttercup Thornless
This award-winning, nearly thornless floribunda grows as a compact plant with clusters of golden, lightly fragrant blooms. Unlike the once-a-season Banksia, it flowers repeatedly throughout the growing season, making it a good pick if you want ongoing color without the thorns.
Prune the Banksia rose right after it finishes blooming, never in winter — cutting back dormant wood removes the growth that would have flowered the following fall.
