Climbing shrub to 10 m or more tall. Prickles absent or few and hooked. Leaves evergreen; stipules small and soon shed. Leaflets 3-7, ovate to lanceolate or oblong, shiny above, occasionally hairy below, at least on the midrib, the margin wavy and with simple teeth. Flowers in many-flowered clusters, each 2-3 cm wide, single or double, white to yellow, fragrant; mostly early spring. Sepals entire. Fruit spherical, 6-8 mm wide, dull red.

R. × fortuneana Lindl. is similar but has 3-5 leaflets and solitary, double, mostly creamy flowers 5-10 cm wide.

var. banksiae Flowers double, white, violet-scented.

var. normalis Reg. Stems prickly. Flowers single, white, fragrant.

W and C China.

Source: Adamson, S.; Bell, R.; Heathcote, R.; Hannemann, D.; Hannemann, F.; Huxley, I.; Newesteeg, J.; Spencer, R.; Sutherland, P. (2002). Rosa. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.