Burnet Rose Rosa spinosissima
Other Common Name(s):
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 the drainage is moist but 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'
- 'Plena'
- Tags:
















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Plena'
Double flower
- 'Plena'
- 'Plena'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Rose
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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-
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, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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
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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.
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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 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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- The adult plant bark is thin and smooth
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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
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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