Rosa Ballerina

Dainty, dainty Rosa Ballerina blossoms are pink and white and it's stamens are deeply yellow. This hybrid musk produces shrubs with large clusters of five-petaled flowers. In spring, there is abundant blooming and in summer, the blooms are scattered. By autumn, a repeat bloom occurs, which is quite showy. Ballerina is perfect for mixed borders. It can be pruned hard and grown near the front of the border or underplanted with silver-leaved perennials. It makes a lovely pillar in the back of beds to conserve space and provide height.

It needs a sunny location, as well as well-drained and amended soil. It is highly recommended in all areas. Cut plants back by half to maintain compact growth and prune lightly for big bushes. Unpruned, it can grow to five feet tall and wide. If trained as a pillar, it can grow to be six feet tall. Prune climbers to remove older canes, and cut back the sideshoots to four buds. Fertilize after pruning and again after first bloom and apply compost annually.

The great news is Ballerina is resistant to black spot and mildew, but if it does occur, just handle it with fungicide and monitor plant for insects.

• Class: Hybrid Musk, pink and white
• Origin: Bentall, United Kingdom, 1937
• Bloom: Dainty pink and white blossoms with yellow stamens. Slightly fragrant. Blooms late spring/early summer. Blooms repeatedly.
• Habit: Climbing growth habit. Height of 8' to 12' (245 to 365 cm).
• Disease susceptibility: Upright shrub with spreading branches. Can also be trained to climb or trained on pillar.
• Parentage: Not recorded.