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Scottish 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 rose is a suckering, deciduous woody perennial in the rose (Rosacea) family and native from Europe to southwestern Siberia, northwest Iran and Algeria. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide. The species name means “most spiny” which describes the abundance of prickles of various sizes on the stem. The scotch rose was an early introduction into North America and can be found at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate.

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. 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 or early spring. Late winter pruning is encouraged to prevent the suckers from spreading. Propagate with hardwood cuttings in autumn, or by division of the suckers in the dormant season. Propagation by seeds can take two years.

Insects, butterflies and songbirds enjoy Burnet rose, making it a good candidate for planting in cottage, drought-tolerant, English and pollinator gardens. It is useful for mass planting as a border, low hedge, privacy screen or large-scale ground cover and, thanks to its suckering habit, will help prevent slope erosion.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 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. 

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#salt tolerant#erosion control#privacy#summer flowers#long bloom time#groundcover#pollinator plant#butterfly friendly#beetle friendly#coastal plant#low hedge#pollinator garden#sandy soil#prickles
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Plena'
    Double flower
'Plena'
Tags:
#deciduous#drought tolerant#rose#white flowers#salt tolerant#erosion control#privacy#summer flowers#long bloom time#groundcover#pollinator plant#butterfly friendly#beetle friendly#coastal plant#low hedge#pollinator garden#sandy soil#prickles
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Rosa
    Species:
    spinosissima
    Family:
    Rosaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    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