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Wild roses

gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
in Plants
Evening all. I've just been for a walk and i was admiring the wild roses clambering through the hedges and trees. They were tall with pink and white flowers. My question is, does anyone know what they are? Are they sweet briar? I couldn't get a decent photo I'm afraid.

Posts

  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    If they looked like this:



    and smelled nice, they're Rosa canina, the dog rose.  This one is growing through my hedge of native plants.   :)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Multiflora?  https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/16056/Rosa-multiflora-(Ra)/Details 
    Utah, USA.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Dog rose?  https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/dog-rose/
    Utah, USA.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    I'd say definitely not R.multiflora, which is native to Japan...
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    Liriodendron said:
    If they looked like this:



    and smelled nice, they're Rosa canina, the dog rose.  This one is growing through my hedge of native plants.   :)
    It certainly looks like this. Some of the flowers were white. Is that still possible? I ask because it looked stunning and i thought i might get one to scramble through my apple tree.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Yes, the blossom can be pink or white.  Next to the dog rose in my hedge is a smaller-flowered, white wild rose, which I think might be R.arvensis, the field rose.  Apparently wild roses hybridise freely so you might be looking at a mixed-race one.   :)  They are very vigorous once they get going - mine is hanging off the top of a hawthorn tree...

    You mentioned sweet briar.  That's Rosa rubiginosa; pink flowers again, but the main feature is the scented foliage.  On a warm, damp evening it smells beautifully of apples - the scent wafts in the air.  I've planted one in every garden I've owned - lovely, but rampant again...
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • gjautosgjautos Posts: 429
    Thankyou. Your answers are appreciated.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Liriodendron said:
    I'd say definitely not R.multiflora, which is native to Japan...
    Yes.. but it's a common rootstock that spreads easily from seed, and has done for decades.. but evidently only in the US.   :)  Oops.  Disregard that idea.
    Utah, USA.
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