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Rosa villosa

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Rosa involuta
Phonetic Spelling
RO-zuh vil-OH-suh
Description

Apple Rose is a deciduous, perennial, dense, flowering shrub that is native to Europe. This medium-sized, compact shrub (4 to 6 feet at maturity) is covered with showy single pink flowers in summer followed by a crop of large red fruits that are a great source of vitamin C, and leaves that turn a soft yellow in the fall.The plant will often form underground runners.

Apple Rose will grow in sandy or loamy soils, tolerates heavy clay soils, and prefers moist, well-drained soil. It can grow in semi-shade, but full sun encourages blossoms. Plants can be propagated from seed or cuttings. Seeds can take up to 2 years to germinate. The cuttings can take 12 months to establish, but a high percentage of them normally succeed. Divide suckers in the dormant season and plant them in their permanent sites.

Good companion plants include alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins, and garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insects. However, it grows badly with boxwood These plants are frequently damaged by deer.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and  Other Plant Problems: This genus is notably susceptible to honey fungus. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and another on diseases of roses.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Profile Video:
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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#shrub#yellow leaves#flowering shrub#edible fruits#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#shrub#yellow leaves#flowering shrub#edible fruits#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rosa
    Species:
    villosa
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    The fruit is often used to make rose hip jelly.
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Layering
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe: Scandanavia south to Spain and west to the Caucasus.
    Distribution:
    Great Britain, Baltic, New England
    Edibility:
    A layer of hairs surround the seeds under the flesh of the fruit that can irritate the mouth and digestive tract if ingested.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Dense
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Pink
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    1 to 2 inch single blush-pink flowers; large, bristly orange-red hips; blossoms from June to early fall.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Glossy blue-green leaves; may develop good yellow fall color
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The bark of the branches are dark brown and smooth. The bark of the younger branches is reddish, slightly frosted and mostly velvety soft hairy.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Walkways
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Hedge