Bred by Joseph Pernet-Ducher in France in 1903 and introduced to the United Kingdom by Sunnydale Nurseries in 1948, Lawrence Johnston is a climbing rose of serious scale. It will reach 20 to 30 feet tall and spread 10 to 20 feet wide given a suitable structure, making it a plant for walls, large pergolas, mature trees, or any vertical site where ambition can be matched with space. The fragrant semi-double yellow flowers bloom profusely in spring, drawing bees, and deadheading may encourage a secondary flush though the main display is the spring one. Dense glossy foliage fills the framework between blooms.

Plant in well-drained loamy soil in full sun and water regularly until established, then mulch the base and fertilize through spring and summer. Do not prune the canes at all during the first two years; the plant needs that time to develop its climbing framework properly. After that, prune as needed in fall and remove dead, diseased, or crossed canes. Winter protection matters in climates at the cold edge of its zone 5 to 9 range. The usual rose pests and diseases apply: black spot, powdery mildew, rust, and aphids all need watching, but the reward for good management is a climber that transforms large spaces in a way few plants can match.