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Rosa 'Seagull' (Seagull Rose)
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Shrubs

Rosa 'Seagull'

Seagull Rose

Rosaceae
Garden hybrid origin (Pritchard, England 1907; Multiflora rambler; cloud-like white sprays; very vigorous 15-25 ft; dense grey-green foliage; sweet fragrance; once-blooming)

At a Glance

TypeVine
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m)
Width10-15 feet (3-4.5 m)
Maturity5 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 'Seagull' is a deciduous rambling rose reaching 15-25 feet (4.5-7.5 m) tall with a spread of 10-15 feet (3-4.5 m) and a very vigorous, arching, rambling habit with long, flexible canes. A Multiflora rambler (Pritchard, 1907), it produces enormous sprays of small, single to semi-double flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) wide in pure white with prominent golden stamens—the large clusters create a billowing white cloud effect reminiscent of seagulls in flight. Each spray can contain 30-50+ individual flowers. The flowers appear in one heavy flush in June-July. The greyish-green foliage is dense and covers well. Growth rate is very fast. Hardy to zone 5. Named for the cloud-like white flower effect. Strong sweet fragrance. The combination of extreme vigor, dense foliage coverage, and masses of white single flowers with gold stamens gives a wild, natural effect.

Native Range

Rosa 'Seagull' is a hybrid of garden origin, bred by Pritchard, England, 1907. R. multiflora parentage.

Suggested Uses

Allowed to scramble through large trees or cover large walls at one plant per 10-12 foot (3-3.6 m) section. Cloud-like white sprays—seagull effect. Very vigorous 15-25 feet. Dense foliage coverage. Sweet fragrance. Once-blooming only. Not suitable for small structures or where continuous bloom is expected.

How to Identify

Distinguished from 'Sander''s White Rambler' by the single to semi-double (versus fully double) flowers and the earlier bloom (Jun-Jul versus Jul-Aug). Distinguished from 'Francis E. Lester' by the pure white (versus white-with-pink-edge) color and the greater vigor (15-25 versus 10-15 feet). The cloud-like white rambler—enormous sprays of white singles with gold stamens, very vigorous, Pritchard 1907.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height15' - 25'
Width/Spread10' - 15'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

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 to semi-double pure white flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) with prominent golden stamens, June-July. Single flush—once-blooming. Strong sweet fragrance. Cloud-like billowing effect. Bloom duration 3-4 weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Pure white with prominent golden stamens; single to semi-double 1-1.5 inches; enormous cloud-like sprays; Jun-Jul; sweet fragrance

Foliage Description

Greyish-green; dense coverage; 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 at the base of a large tree or against a massive wall. Well-drained soil (pH 6.0-7.0). Hardy to zone 5. Very vigorous—15-25 feet. Dense greyish-green foliage covers well. Once-blooming. Good disease resistance.

Pruning

Prune after flowering in summer. Remove oldest canes at the base every 3-4 years. The extreme vigor requires regular management. Flexible canes are manageable when young.

Pruning Schedule

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summer

Maintenance Level

low

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic