Sally Holmes
Best versatile shrub for gardeners seeking continuous blooms and vertical interest.
Introducing the Sally Holmes rose, a stunning Shrub Rose from David Austin Roses, renowned for its abundant clusters of large, creamy white blooms. This repeat-flowering variety provides continuous beauty from late spring through early winter. Its vigorous growth allows it to be trained as a short climber up to 10 feet on walls or fences, or grown as a substantial shrub. David Austin Roses offers a 5-year guarantee and lifetime support for this exceptional rose, ensuring your gardening success.
$40.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.8
/ 5
Category Rank
2
/ 2598
#2 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+2%
Above average
Colour
Creamy white
/ Creamy white
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking low-maintenance, disease-resistant plants
- Landscapers wanting high-impact, season-long floral displays
- Designers needing flexible plants for vertical or structural interest
Who should skip it
- Fragrance lovers prioritizing aromatic garden experiences
- Traditionalists preferring the classic, multi-petaled rose aesthetic
- Small-space gardeners with limited room for large shrubs
Performance breakdown
Bloom Longevity
Repeat-flowering cycle provides continuous color from late spring through early winter.
Versatility
Adapts easily as a substantial shrub or a trained short climber.
Hardiness
Robust growth thrives across a wide range of USDA climate zones.
Pollinator Appeal
Open petal structure serves as a reliable magnet for beneficial bees.
Growth Rate
Vigorous development ensures quick coverage for walls and garden fences.
Support Guarantee
Five-year warranty and lifetime support offer significant peace of mind.
Key Specs
Colour
Creamy white
Flowering
Repeat Flowering
Bloom Size
Large (3.5-5")
Family
Shrub Rose
Size
Short Climber
Height
Up to 10ft
Breeder
Holmes
Year of Introduction
1976
Features
- Large, creamy white blooms nearly always in bloom
- Vigorous shrub growth
- Suitable for walls and fences
- Attracts beneficial bees
- Tolerates various soil types
- Repeat flowering for extended beauty
- Comes with a 5-year guarantee
- Upright plant form
What customers say
Customers overwhelmingly praise 'Sally Holmes' for its phenomenal vigor and exceptional disease resistance, making it a low maintenance workhorse. Its defining feature is a spectacular blooming habit, producing massive trusses of simple, creamy white flowers that smother the plant. This sheer volume of bloom creates a breathtaking visual impact, especially when grown as a large shrub or hedge. Reviewers celebrate its reliability and hardiness, noting it thrives where delicate roses fail. While the fragrance is mild, its robust nature and unparalleled ability to deliver continuous, dramatic floral displays solidify its reputation as a highly recommended, must-have variety for consistent garden color.
Know before you buy
It is versatile enough to be grown as either. You can maintain it as a substantial, upright shrub, or train its vigorous canes against a wall or fence to reach heights of up to 10 feet.
The Sally Holmes is a repeat-flowering variety, meaning it provides continuous blooms from late spring all the way through early winter, depending on your local climate.
This variety is quite hardy and suitable for USDA zones 5 through 11. Its ability to tolerate various soil types makes it a reliable choice for a wide range of garden environments.
Like most roses, it performs best in well-drained soil. While it is adaptable to different soil types, ensure the planting site does not remain waterlogged to keep the plant healthy.
Yes, the Sally Holmes is an excellent choice for a pollinator-friendly garden. Its open, five-petaled blooms are particularly attractive to bees.
It requires moderate watering and prefers a location with full sun exposure. Because it is a vigorous grower, you may need to prune it occasionally to maintain your desired shape or to encourage climbing along a support structure.
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Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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$40