Shrub with trailing stems. Prickles strong, straight, broad and scattered. Leaflets 3-5, more or less ovate, hairless above, downy on the veins below, teeth simple. Flowers in open clusters of mostly more than 10, single, 5-7.5 cm wide, fragrant or not, deep pink, fading to white; summer. Styles united, protruding. Fruit to 1 cm wide, round, red-brown, bristly.

R. helenae Rehder &Wils. from C China is a rambling shrub to about 5 m tall with short, broad, curved prickles. Leaflets mostly 7-9, shape variable, hairless above, pale and hairy on the veins below, teeth simple. Flower clusters flat-topped. Flowers single, 2-4 cm wide, fragrant, white; summer. Styles united, protruding. Fruit 1-1.5 cm wide, orange to scarlet, with glandular hairs.

E and C North America.

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.