Ballerina

Most of us know ‘Ballerina’ as it is a favorite of most rosarians given its dainty flowers, nonstop bloom and multiple awards on the exhibition table with an incredible American Rose Society rating of 8.5. This rose is a single flowered one with five petals shading from the pink bud to open white/pink and healthy mid-green foliage. The bush is of a rounded habit growing to three feet and can be planted as a shrub, hedge or on its own, but it can be pruned and kept to a manageable size.

The parentage is actually unknown, but the flowers resemble the climber ‘Blush Rambler’ that is often found in old gardens (however that rose has a double bloom). The Combined Rose List identifies it as a hybrid musk, of a medium pink, however most flowers are white or light pink with a darker pink reverse once opened. This rose was introduced by Bentall of UK in 1937. It was also awarded the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

By Barbara Picarelli, Consulting Rosarian Emeritus
Edited for the website by Nanette Londeree, March 2020

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top