Rosa canina L.

Dog Rose

Arching or climbing shrub to 5 m or so tall. Prickles well spaced, hooked, without bristles. Leaflets 5-7, each to 4 cm long, variable in shape, mostly hairless, marginal teeth simple or compound. Flowers in 1s or groups of 2-5, single, mostly 2-4 cm wide, white or pale pink, fragrant; summer. Styles free, protruding. Fruit to 3 cm wide, ovoid, red to orange.

NW Africa, SW Asia, Europe. Naturalised in SA, Qld, NSW and Vic. Introduced by the early settlers,mainly as a grafting stock for other roses.

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.

Hero image
Distribution map
kingdom Plantae
phylum   Tracheophyta
class    Magnoliopsida
superorder     Rosanae
order      Rosales
family       Rosaceae
genus        Rosa L.