'Bobbie James' is a hybrid wichurana (now R. luciae ) rambler rose in the rose family (Rosaceae) bred by Sunningdale Nursery, Ltd. of the United Kingdom, in 1961. Unknown parentage. This rose can grow 10-25 feet tall and spread 8-10 feet wide. Plant in full sun in amended well-drained garden soil. Water twice weekly during dry spells and avoid overhead watering. Fertilize every 2 weeks with a liquid fertilizer. Prune in late winter to control size and remove dead and diseased canes. 'Bobbie James' produces large clusters of creamy-white single to semi-double flowers with yellow stamens and a moderate fragrance. It blooms in spring with no repeat blooming and produces small, oval, orange-red hips. The leaves are glossy medium green and the stems have prickles. Received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Use this rose on any verticle surface as trellises and fences or cascading over a rock wall. It can be used as a barrier or for private screening. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See pests of roses to the left. Deer will browse roses. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa 'Belle de Baltimore'Rosa 'Red Fountain'Rosa 'The Garland'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Rose
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Cascading; Climbing; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Medium green glossy foliage
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Good Dried; Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
2-3 inch fragrant, creamy-white, semi-double flowers with yellow stamens and 9-16 petals in large clusters. Blooms once in spring.