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Rosa 'Francis E. Lester' (Francis E. Lester Rose)
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© Kurt Stüber [1], some rights reserved (CC-BY-SA) · Wikimedia Commons
Shrubs

Rosa 'Francis E. Lester'

Francis E. Lester Rose

Rosaceae
Garden hybrid origin (Lester Rose Gardens, Watsonville CA 1946; Hybrid Musk rambler; white+pink edge; apple-blossom fragrance; heaviest hip crop; mainly once-blooming)

At a Glance

TypeVine
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height10-15 feet (3-4.5 m)
Width6-10 feet (1.8-3 m)
Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9
Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts PollinatorsAttracts ButterfliesFragrant (strong)
Maintenancelow

Overview

Rosa 'Francis E. Lester' is a deciduous climbing to rambling rose reaching 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m) tall with a spread of 6-10 feet (1.8-3 m) and a vigorous, arching, rambling habit with long flexible canes. A Hybrid Musk rambler (Lester, 1946), it produces enormous sprays of small, single flowers 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) wide in white with a blush-pink edge—the pink-edged-white single flowers in massive clusters create a cloud-like effect. Each spray can contain 30-50+ individual flowers. The flowers appear in one heavy flush in June-July with occasional light rebloom. The glossy, medium green foliage shows good disease resistance. Growth rate is fast. Hardy to zone 5. Named for Francis E. Lester of Watsonville, California. Strong apple-blossom fragrance. Produces abundant small orange-red hips in autumn—among the heaviest hip sets in climbing roses.

Native Range

Rosa 'Francis E. Lester' is a hybrid of garden origin, bred by Lester Rose Gardens, Watsonville, California, 1946. Hybrid Musk class.

Suggested Uses

Trained on walls, pergolas, arches, or allowed to scramble through large trees at one plant per 8-10 foot (2.4-3 m) section. Apple-blossom fragrance. Cloud-like sprays. Abundant autumn hips—do not deadhead. Lester 1946 California. Mainly once-blooming with light rebloom. Not suitable for small structures or where continuous heavy flowering is expected.

How to Identify

Distinguished from 'Ballerina' (also Hybrid Musk with single pink-and-white flowers) by the climbing (versus shrub) habit and the larger sprays. Distinguished from 'Darlow''s Enigma' (also white climber) by the pink-edged (versus pure white) petals and the heavier hip production. Distinguished from 'Adélaide d''Orléans' by the single (versus semi-double) flowers and the abundant autumn hips. The apple-blossom climbing rose—white with pink edges, massive sprays, abundant autumn hips, Lester 1946.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 15'
Width/Spread6' - 10'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white
pink

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

gold

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks
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Summer
Enormous sprays of 30-50+ small single white flowers 1.5-2 inches (4-5 cm) with blush-pink edges, June-July. Main flush with occasional light rebloom. Strong apple-blossom fragrance. Abundant small orange-red hips in autumn—among the heaviest hip crops.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

White with blush-pink edge; single 1.5-2 inches; enormous sprays of 30-50+; apple-blossom fragrance; Jun-Jul

Foliage Description

Glossy medium green; good disease resistance; deciduous

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclay
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant in full sun in well-drained, fertile soil (pH 6.0-7.0). Hardy to zone 5. Vigorous climber. Good disease resistance. Do not deadhead—the autumn hip display is a major feature. Feed in spring.

Pruning

Prune after flowering or in late winter. Train main canes horizontally. Remove oldest canes at the base every 3-4 years. Leave spent flowers for hip production.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic