Silver Moon arrived in 1910 from the breeding program of Dr. Walter Van Fleet, whose parentage notes for this rose were never firmly established. What is certain is the result: a vigorous rambler that can cover 10 to 20 feet of fence, wall, or arbor with attractive, glossy dark green foliage on heavily prickled canes. The flowers come once, in late spring to early summer, and when they do the display is memorable. Each bloom is semi-double and up to 5 inches across in white with a mild apple scent, appearing mostly solitary rather than in clusters.

Because Silver Moon blooms on old wood, the timing of pruning matters. Wait until the flowering is completely finished before cutting back, and limit pruning to the removal of dead or diseased canes. No major shaping should happen in late winter as it will remove the flowering wood for that season. Very disease resistant overall, though some susceptibility to mildew exists. Hardy from zone 7 to 11, it needs a substantial structure and open sun to perform at its best, and in those conditions it becomes one of the most reliable and imposing climbers in the garden. Bees are regular visitors during the bloom period.