Petal Pals
shrub · 1956
Golden Showers rose
Rosa 'Golden Showers'
6-10 ft
Height
Continuous
Blooming
Shade OK
Light
5–9
Zone
Plant & Flower Traits
Rose type
shrub
Bloom size
4-5.5 inches
Bloom habit
Large, loose, semi-double to double blooms produced in generous clusters; notable for blooming on both old and new wood.
Petal count
20-35 petals
Flowering
continuous
Habit
climbing
Color
yellow
Fragrance
moderate
Foliage
Dark green (foliage often emerges with a dark red or bronze tint in spring)
Foliage surface
Glossy
Fragrance Notes
Sweet honey, light tea, and hints of licorice.
Color Description
Golden-yellow, fading to light yellow, primrose, or ivory-white as they mature.
🌱 Growth & Garden Habits
Height
6-10 ft
Spread
3-7 ft
Soil
Prefers rich, fertile, moist, and well-drained soil; adaptable to clay, loam, chalk, and sandy soil types.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 5–9
Disease Resistance
Very good; historically recognized for having higher disease resistance than many other yellow-flowered climbing roses, particularly against black spot.
🌿 Care Guide
Watering
Average water needs; requires regular watering to keep soil consistently moist but well-drained.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced rose fertilizer and mulch in late winter or early spring, with a second application in early summer.
Pruning
Prune in late winter or early spring. Can be maintained as a large, upright shrub or trained as a climber on walls, arbors, and trellises.
Pests & Diseases
Very good; high resistance to black spot, powdery mildew, and rust.
🧬 Pedigree
Charlotte Armstrong × Captain Thomas
🏆 Awards & Recognition
All-America Rose Selections (AARS) 1957; Portland Gold Medal 1957; Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Award of Garden Merit 1993.