Rosa rubiginosa – Sweet Briar

An uncommon native plant, this is the rose that Shakespeare called eglantine. Rosa rubiginosa is a big, vigorous, thorny, deciduous shrub with an erect, spreading, bushy habit. The navided, mid-green leaves have rather rounded leaflets with sticky brown glands on the undersurface, which exude the scent of apples, especially after rain. Bright to light pink single flowers with golden stamens are borne in summer; these are very good for pollinators. Red, ovoid hips follow in autumn, a resource for birds. Sweet briar is a lovely shrub for a wild garden, as part of an informal hedge or as a specimen in a wildflower meadow.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Any well-drained soil, preferably moist and humus-rich
Position: Full sun
Season of interest: Summer and autumn
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 8’ (2.5m) Spread: 8’ (2.5m)

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Please do not order online for the Acres Scheme.