sticky leaves

10 years ago

I have a Lady Banks rose with really tiny, thin leaves. I've been very vigilant about aphids because they've been a problem in the past. I'm not seeing any aphids or anything else on the leaves or stems but all the new growth is sticky. In the attached photo you can see - no aphids, sticky sap coming off the leaves. Is this normal?

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jacqueline9CA

10 years ago

Don't worry about it - just hose the plant off with water. Where are you, approximately? What zone? Lady Banks is one of the most trouble free roses in the world, assuming the climate is not too cold for her. Yours is a teenie, tiny, baby. The leaves look perfectly normal. I often have roses which produce little beads of water from the leaves after watering - it is normal. I'm guessing if there is anything like dust, or left over aphid poop (which is sort of a sweet syrup - that'w why the ants like it) on the leaves, they might get a bit sticky. Aphids, if they appear, will not hurt her - again, just wash them off with water.

It looks lovely and healthy as you say. Leave her alone, get out of the way, and watch what she will do! Here is a pic of my Yellow Lady Banks (one bush):

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Comments (6)

Patty W. zone 5a Illinois
10 years ago
Can you take a photo with more of the bush and stem?
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Big Pink
Original Author
10 years ago
It doesn't show much but here is the photo. The plant seems healthy and I've checked it for aphids or any other critters. Nothing.
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Big Pink
Original Author
10 years ago
Oh my god! That's beautiful!

I'm in New York City where it was 70 degrees on Christmas Eve last year so I don't think the cold will be an issue. I'm growing it over a screen for a little privacy so seeing your photo is encouraging.

I don't know why it's so small. I ordered it, along with a Blaze of Glory, from Jackson Perkins. They're both supposed to be very disease and pest-free.

Thank you for the reassurance and the encouragement.
jacqueline9CA
10 years ago
Help Me FInd/roses says that LB needs a climate zone of 6b or warmer. I am not sure what your climate zone is, but I would guess it is borderline for this rose. So, the best place to grow it would be somewhere with a Southern exposure, and in a sheltered (from wind, etc) position. Mine of the pic above is growing on a South facing wall, in climate zone 9/10, so that is completely different from where you are. Yours should be where it gets the most possible sun in the summer - banksias LOVE sun and heat, and the hotter they get in the summer, the more able they will be to survive cold in the winter. Yours appears to be in some shade at the bottom - the more you can encourage it (by tying, or whatever) to climb up into the sunlight the more it will be happy.

Jackie
diane_nj 6b/7a
10 years ago
Lady Banks is borderline hardy in 6b/7a. We had a couple of cold snaps and snow storms in January and February, which couldn't have made LB happy.