Dense, arching to erect or scrambling shrub 2-3 m tall. Prickles large, hooked, unequal, generally with bristles. Leaflets 5-9, 1-3 cm long, roundish elliptic to obovate, mostly hairless above, downy and glandular below, aromatic, especially when crushed (apple-like), teeth compound. Flowers in clusters of up to 5 or more, single, mostly 2-4 cm wide, various shades of pink, fragrant; summer. Styles free, not protruding. Fruit mostly 1-2 cm wide, red to orange, round to ovoid, hairless or occasionally bristly.

W Asia, N Africa, Europe. Naturalised in SA, NSW, Vic and Tas, often widely so. In SA, introduced by the early settlers as a hedge plant and garden ornamental, now naturalised on roadsides, neglected pasture and bush in high rainfall regions. The seed is spread by birds and mammals that consume the edible fruits. It is also a severe problem in S Africa and New Zealand.

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.