I bought eight Sally Holmes bare root, to plant on the south side of my home maybe ten years ago, in Zone 7, Renton, Washington. In one year they were ten feet tall with strong canes, covered with 5" pink tinged on the edge, roses in the Spring. In clusters! To me they looked like giant crabapple blossoms. I could see them out of every window on that side of my home. And they bloomed more white in the summer and were the last roses in bloom along with Mutabilis, the China rose, at Christmas. Sally has been introduced to my retirement garden here in Zone 10a, Cape Coral, Florida and was planted two weeks ago, leafed out nicely! I anticipate strong canes and no disease and no problems! I will be able to see her bloom, planted next to Don Juan, my favorite red climber on the East side of the house, from most of the windows in my home. By the way, Don had 15 roses all at once on his first bloom and this is the last day of December and he has 6 gorgeous dark red red 5.5" blooms in front of my home, if you are looking for a very fragrant dark red rose on a climber in southwest Florida! He has performed for me all over the country. This would be a good place to buy him!

In 2021, I moved to a different part of the country, a different gardening zone and a new property. Mind you, having 100 bushes is not new to me, but building up a new garden takes time. Everything about this rose was appealing. She was one of my first Heirloom roses. The winter here in 2o22 was brutal, well beyond the norm. Even the longer term natives were shocked. I did my best to protect my investment, but sadly it was not enough, and I lost a large number of bushes and money. (No, I did not request replacements with the HR guarantee-it was not their fault nor mine that Nature opted for sharing the wealth of the Arctic)

Once winter was over, I had lost all but two bushes and Sally Holmes was one. There was never a patent on this rose, so I will be propagating it to save the genetics of this particular bush. She defeated the Death Star, and deserves a large set of offspring.

This spring/summer, she was like a race horse at the gate-she has taken off like a rocket and nothing seems to phase her. Next growing season is going to be even better. My comment sequel to follow.

When I first saw a picture in a catalog, I thought is was a dogwood tree. I loved them in the midwest but knew they wouldn't survive hot Southern California summers. I planted two by an arbor and was rewarded with months of gorgeousness that resolved my craving for dogwood in my garden.

I moved to Sequim, WA in 2008 & the Sally Holmes rose was trained to an Arbour. Every year it bursts into bloom in late May & continues thru summer. Nothing seems to bother it. I wish I could share a photo.
It's one of my favorite.

I hope I never have to live without a Sally Holmes to brighten my world. She is indefatigable in her joyful blooming, and I love her large open blooms almost as much as the bees. Even her most tender buds, blushed with soft rose pink, bring delight to the garden.
Sally flourishes here in Coastal Plain NC, Zone 7B.