Rosa rubiginosa - L.

Translate this page:

You can translate the content of this page by selecting a language in the select box.

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Synonyms

R. eglanteria.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Hedge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers;  Fruit;  Seed;  Stem.
Edible Uses: Tea.

Fruit - cooked[2, 62]. It is used in making jellies etc[105, 183]. The taste is best after a frost[172]. The fruit is up to 25mm in diameter[200], but there is only a thin layer of flesh surrounding the many seeds[K]. Some care has to be taken when eating this fruit, see the notes above on known hazards. A pleasant tasting fruity-flavoured tea is made from the fruit, it is rich in vitamin C[21]. Petals - raw or cooked. Remove the bitter white base[172]. Used in confectionery[177, 183]. Young shoots - raw[172]. Used as they come through the ground in spring. The seed is a good source of vitamin E, it can be ground into a powder and mixed with flour or added to other foods as a supplement[102, 183]. Be sure to remove the seed hairs[102].

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Aperient;  Astringent;  Cancer;  Skin;  Stomachic.

The flowers and hips are aperient, astringent and stomachic[21, 46]. An infusion of dried rose petals can be used to treat headaches and dizziness, with honey added the infusion is used as a heart and nerve tonic and a blood purifier[21]. A decoction of the petals is used to treat mouth sores[21]. The seed is rich in vitamin E and an oil extracted from the seed is used externally in the treatment of burns, scars and wrinkles[238]. The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers[214].

Other Uses

Hedge;  Hedge.

The plant makes a good low hedge[1, 11]. The prickles on the stem make it a useful security hedge[245].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils[11], preferring a circumneutral soil and a sunny position[14, 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes water-logged soils[200]. Grows well with alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins[18, 20]. Garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insect predation[18, 20]. Grows badly with boxwood[18]. Grows well on chalk. A very ornamental plant[1]. The leaves are apple-scented[188]. The flowers are slightly scented[245]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[80]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed. Rose seed often takes two years to germinate. This is because it may need a warm spell of weather after a cold spell in order to mature the embryo and reduce the seedcoat[80]. One possible way to reduce this time is to scarify the seed and then place it for 2 - 3 weeks in damp peat at a temperature of 27 - 32°c (by which time the seed should have imbibed). It is then kept at 3°c for the next 4 months by which time it should be starting to germinate[80]. Alternatively, it is possible that seed harvested 'green' (when it is fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and sown immediately will germinate in the late winter. This method has not as yet(1988) been fully tested[80]. Seed sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame sometimes germinates in spring though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be sown as early in the year as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c[200]. It may take 2 years to germinate[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer if the plants are more than 25cm tall, otherwise grow on in a cold frame for the winter and plant out in late spring.Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July in a shaded frame. Overwinter the plants in the frame and plant out in late spring[78]. High percentage[78]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth. Select pencil thick shoots in early autumn that are about 20 - 25cm long and plant them in a sheltered position outdoors or in a cold frame[78, 200]. The cuttings can take 12 months to establish but a high percentage of them normally succeed[78]. Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions. Layering. Takes 12 months[11].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name Common Name Edibility Rating Medicinal Rating Acaenia anserinifolia Pirri-Pirri Bur 1 1 Aciphylla squarrosa Speargrass 2 0 Adenostoma fasciculatum Greasewood 0 1 Adenostoma sparsifolium Redshank 1 1 Agrimonia eupatoria Agrimony, Churchsteeples 2 3 Agrimonia parviflora Harvestlice 0 2 Agrimonia pilosa Hairy Agrimony 2 3 Agrimonia striata Roadside agrimony 0 0 Alchemilla alpina Alpine Lady's Mantle, Mountain Lady's Mantle 2 3 Alchemilla xanthochlora Lady's Mantle 2 3 Amelanchier alnifolia Saskatoon, Saskatoon serviceberry, Serviceberry 5 2 Amelanchier alnifolia cusickii Cusick's Serviceberry 4 1 Amelanchier alnifolia semiintegrifolia Pacific Serviceberry 5 1 Amelanchier arborea Downy Serviceberry, Alabama serviceberry, Juneberry, Common Serviceberry, Downy Serviceberry 3 1 Amelanchier asiatica Korean Juneberry 3 0 Amelanchier bartramiana Oblongfruit serviceberry 3 0 Amelanchier basalticola Dwarf Service-berry 4 0 Amelanchier canadensis Juneberry, Canadian serviceberry, Serviceberry Downy, Shadblow, Shadbush, Serviceberry 4 1 Amelanchier confusa   5 0 Amelanchier humilis Low serviceberry 3 0 Amelanchier huroensis   3 0 Amelanchier interior Pacific serviceberry 3 0 Amelanchier intermedia June berry, 3 0 Amelanchier laevis Allegheny Shadberry, Allegheny serviceberry, Smooth Serviceberry 5 1 Amelanchier lamarckii Apple Serviceberry 5 0 Amelanchier obovalis Southern Juneberry, Coastal serviceberry 3 0 Amelanchier ovalis Snowy Mespilus, Dwarf Garden Serviceberry 2 0 Amelanchier ovalis integrifolia   2 0 Amelanchier pallida Pale Serviceberry 3 1 Amelanchier parviflora   2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ...

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

1117200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at admin@pfaf.org. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves. * Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information. To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately. Subject : Rosa rubiginosa