Rosa villosa
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Rosa involuta
- Phonetic Spelling
- RO-zuh vil-OH-suh
- Description
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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:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Spines
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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:
- 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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
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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.
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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
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Walkways
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Hedge
