Sweet Briar Rose / Rosa Rubiginosa
Rosa rubiginosa (Sweet briar or Eglantine Rose; syn. R. eglanteria) is a species of rose native to Europe and western Asia.
Growing Details
Common Name: Sweet Briar Rose
Genus: Rosa
Cultivar: Rubiginosa
Skill Level: Experienced
Exposure: Full sun
Hardiness: Hardy
Soil type: Well-drained/light, Clay/heavy, Moist
Height: 2 - 3m
Spread: 2 - 3m
Flowering period: June to July
Description
It is a dense deciduous shrub 2-3 m high and across, with the stems bearing numerous hooked prickles. The foliage has a strong apple-like fragrance. The leaves are pinnate, 5-9 cm long, with 5-9 rounded to oval leaflets with a serrated margin, and numerous glandular hairs. The flowers are 1.8-3 cm diameter, the five petals being pink with a white base, and the numerous stamens yellow; the flowers are produced in clusters of 2-7 together, from late spring to mid summer. The fruit is a globose to oblong red hip 1-2 cm diameter
In addition to its pink flowers, it is valued for its scent, and the hips that form after the flowers and persist well into the winter.
