Introduced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1922, Mary Wallace was the work of Dr. Walter Van Fleet, who crossed Rosa wichuraiana with an unnamed hybrid tea to produce a climbing rose of remarkable vigor. The large, semi-double pink flowers carry a pleasing fragrance and appear in a generous spring flush, with a repeat performance in summer and occasional fall blooms. The canes are notably smooth, with few to no prickles, making maintenance considerably easier than many climbers in its class.

Mary Wallace will reach 10-20 feet tall and 8 feet wide when given a sunny fence, trellis, or pergola to explore. Well-drained soil in full sun brings out the best performance, and pruning after the main bloom period keeps the plant tidy and directed. It is impressively disease resistant for a rose of its age, though blackspot can appear in wet seasons. Hardy in zones 6-9.