About

A robust rambler that can reach heights of over 10 meters, Rosa 'Betty Sherriff' features stems armed with prominent hooked thorns and elongated, lanceolate grey-green leaflets. In summer, it produces generous clusters of fragrant, single blooms in a soft blush-pink, emerging from reddish-pink buds. This variety blooms once per season and is followed by small orange hips. It thrives in warm locations and is well-suited for training on trees.

About the genus

Rosa consists of either deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs and climbing plants that often feature thorny stems. The leaves are typically compound and pinnate, while the flowers can appear alone or in clusters. In certain varieties, the blooms are succeeded by prominent red or purple fruits.

Growing conditions

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Clay, Loam, Chalk, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

West-facing, South-facing, East-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H4

Plant details

Plant type

Climber Wall Shrub, Roses

Habit

Climbing

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

8-12 metres

Spread

2.5-4 metres

Time to full height

5-10 years

Suggested uses

Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens

Fragrance

Flower

Toxicity

Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers

Care notes

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, in a warm sheltered position. Best suited to southern counties. Suitable for climbing into large trees. Mulch with well-rotted organic matter in late winter or early spring, and for best flowering apply a general rose or shrub fertiliser in early spring and again in early summer. See rose cultivation

Pruning

See pruning group 18 (rambler roses) and our video How to prune rambling roses

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early to mid spring, hardwood cuttings in late summer to autumn or by chip budding in summer

Pest resistance

May be susceptible to aphids, rose leafhopper, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, caterpillars, large rose sawfly, rose slugworm sawfly and rose leaf-rolling sawfly. Deer and rabbits can cause damage

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to rose black spot, rose rust, replant disease, rose dieback, and rose powdery mildew and sometimes honey fungus. May also be susceptible to disorders rose blindness and flower balling