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Dog Rose Wikimedia Commons
Rosaceae

Dog Rose

Rosa canina

Hedgerow heritage and quiet healing.

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Rosa
Native to
Europe, western Asia, northwest Africa
Bloom season
Early Summer
Type
deciduous shrub
Height
1–5 m
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
any well-drained
Water
low to medium
Hardiness
3–8
Lifespan
long-lived perennial

Did you know

  • Its bright red hips contain more vitamin C by weight than oranges and were collected en masse during WWII rationing.
  • The name 'dog rose' is thought to derive from a medieval belief that the root could cure the bite of a mad dog.
  • It is the most common wild rose across Europe and the iconic flower of the English hedgerow.
  • Its rootstock is the foundation on which most modern garden roses are grafted, worldwide.
  • Each open flower lasts barely two days, but a healthy bush opens new flowers continuously for nearly a month.

Color meanings

Pink

rural English summer

White

pure hedgerow grace

Uses

  • rose hip syrup and tea
  • rootstock for grafting
  • hedgerow restoration