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Native alternative(s) for Rosa spinosissima:
Clethra alnifolia Clethra alnifolia
Rosa palustris Rosa palustris
Rosa virginiana Flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Armeria maritima Armeria maritima
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Tilia tomentosa Tilia tomentosa
Rosa spinosissima has some common insect problems:
Rose Aphid
Rose Pest Management Calendar
Pests of Rose

Rosa spinosissima

Previously known as:

  • Rosa pimpinellifolia
  • Rosa sibirica
Phonetic Spelling
ROH-sah spin-oh-SIS-ih-mah
Description

Burnet or scotch rose is a small, hardy suckering shrub in the rose (Rosacea) family native to Europe and Asia. The shrub can grow up to 4 feet tall and wide. Immigrants to North America probably brought the burnet rose here. They have been found growing wild in Wisconsin and Michigan along the roadside, at abandoned farms, along fences, and meadows. The scotch rose can also be found at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. The species name means “most spiny” which describes the abundance of prickles and spines of various sizes on the stem.

It has a profusion of single cup-like 2-inch creamy white flowers in late spring and early summer. The compound leaves are bright green. In autumn, spherical, purplish-black fruits are produced, and the leaves drop in the winter.

The burnet rose can be grown in partial sun, but flourishes in full sun. It can tolerate a variety of poor soils (chalk, clay, loam, and sand) if well-drained. The plant is drought and salt-tolerant. It can be used as a ground cover or low hedge under difficult conditions as an alternative to junipers. In full sun, the plant is disease-resistant, and the blooms can be fragrant. To encourage flowering, apply a balanced fertilizer and mulch in late winter/early spring. Late winter pruning is encouraged to prevent the suckers from spreading.

The burnet rose attracts pollinating insects, butterflies, and birds, and can be planted in meadows and borders to attract these pollinators. Due to its hardiness, it is useful as a large-scale ground cover and for mass planting. The plant can also be used in coastal gardens where the soil is sandy, and there is exposure to dry, windy, salty conditions. Propagate with hardwood cuttings in autumn, or by division of the suckers in the dormant season. Propagation by seeds can take two years.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The plant is usually insect and disease resistant in full sun. Under other conditions, it may be susceptible to black spot, rose rust, and powdery mildews. It may also be affected by aphids, leafhoppers, glasshouse red spider mites, scale insects, caterpillars, and rose leaf-rolling sawfly. Pruning in the late winter will help control the suckers.

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

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Plena'
    Double flower
'Plena'
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#rose#white flowers#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#summer flowers#spines#long bloom time#groundcover#coastal plant#low hedge#sandy soil
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Plena'
    Double flower
'Plena'
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#rose#white flowers#yellow flowers#salt tolerant#summer flowers#spines#long bloom time#groundcover#coastal plant#low hedge#sandy soil
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rosa
    Species:
    spinosissima
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe to South Western Siberia and NW. Iran and Algeria
    Wildlife Value:
    Pollinating insects, butterflies, and birds
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Rose
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Mounding
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Prickles
  • 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:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
    Aggregate
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The rosehips are round-blue-black fruits
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Cream/Tan
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    A profusion of single, creamy-white, fragrant blooms with 5 petals in late spring to early summer. Blooms are up to 2 inches across.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The compound leaves are shiny with 9-11 leaflets. Leaf venation is pinnate and margins are usually serrated. Leaflets are elliptic to ovate in shape.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Red/Burgundy
    Bark Description:
    The adult plant bark is thin and smooth
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Bud Scales:
    Enclosed in 2 scales
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    The stem has many reddish-brown prickles of various sizes. Stem matures from reddish-green to reddish brown
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    English Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Attracts:
    Pollinators
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Poor Soil
    Salt
    Problems:
    Spines/Thorns