Rosa canina – Dog Rose

The familiar and much-loved dog rose of our hedgerows and woodland edges, Rosa canina is a vigorous, scrambling, suckering, deciduous shrub with arching green stems armed with curved thorns to help it climb. The mid-green leaves are navided into 7 leaflets. The lightly scented, five-petalled flowers, 2-3”/5cm across, come in shades from white to candy-pink with golden stamens, and are borne from June to August. They are followed by orange-red hips which are very rich in Vitamin C, but also contain irritant hairs, once used by bold children as a rustic itching-powder. The dog rose is lovely planted in a hedge or up a tree, and, where there is space, will make a fast-growing, impenetrable hedge. A good plant for pollinators and birds.

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Any well-drained soil, preferably humus-rich
Position: Full sun or partial shade
Season of interest: Summer and autumn
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Height: 16’ (5m) Spread: 6’6” (2m)

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Please do not order online for the Acres Scheme.