The pink to white single roses of the dog rose are followed by elongated, edible, vitamin C-rich, red hips that remain attractive into winter. The long, rambling branches of this deciduous rose are armed with sharp woody thorns and sucker and spread to form sprawling thickets. Though wild in nature, this is an attractive, durable rose that feeds wildlife. It is native to Europe, western Asia and adjacent northwestern Africa where it can be found growing along field and forest edges.
Dog rose's glossy leaves are medium to dark green. Each compound leaf comprises five to seven pointed, oval leaflets with serrated edges. The roses bloom from late-spring to early summer. The flowers are single, medium-sized and quite fragrant. Color is variable and ranges from white to rich pink. Petals are heart-shaped and surround a spider of yellow stamens. Bees are the chief pollinators. By autumn, elongated, urn-shaped hips of tomato red take center stage. The leaves drop away in autumn, leaving many hips for wildlife.
Grow the dog rose in full to partial sun. It grows best in average to well-drained soil that is moderately rich and has a neutral to slightly acid pH. It tolerates high wind. Prune in late-winter to maintain its size and shape. The rambling stems can be trained to climb fences, pergolas and other garden structures. (info source: Learn2Grow.com)
Genus - Rosa
Species - Canina
Common name - Dog Rose
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 7
Height - 6'-30' / 1.8m - 9.1m
Spread - 6'-20' / 1.8m - 6.1m
Plant type - Shrub
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth rate - Fast
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral
Soil type - Clay, laom, Sand, well drained
Water requirements - Average Water
Landscape uses - Edible, Mixed Border
Germination rate - 80%
Bloom season - Late Spring, Early Summer
Leaf / Flower color - Green, Dark Green / White, Pink
Useful Info | |
Germination | 1. Drop the seeds into a container filled with 1 cup of water and 1 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide. Leave them to soak for 24 hours. Remove them and pat them dry. 2. Line the bottom of a plastic freezer bag with 2 inches of moistened peat moss or vermiculite to cold-stratify the rose seeds. Scatter the seeds over the peat moss. Then cover them with another inch of moistened peat moss. Put them in the refrigerator for eight weeks. 3. Plant the rose hip seeds 1/2 inch deep and roughly 1 inch apart in a seed tray filled with a moistened mixture of one part sand and one part vermiculite. Store the tray in indirect sunlight for the first four weeks. Then place the tray near a sunny window. The seed should germinate in two to three months. Keep the soil in the tray moist at all times. Touch the surface frequently. If it is dry, spray it with water from a spray bottle. Use a paper towel to blot any water that pools on the seedling's foliage. 4. Transplant the seedlings into the garden when they turn green and produce two healthy leaves. Lift the healthiest seedlings out of the seed tray by sliding a pencil underneath their roots and pushing them up out of the soil. Handle them gently and plant them into amended garden soil at the same depth that they grew in the seedling tray. (info source: eHow.com) |