Native Irish Dog Rose

Description:

Rosa canina (commonly known as the dog rose) is a variable climbing wild rose species native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia. This native rose is commonly known as the dog rose (Rosa canina) or you may know it by one of its numerous aliases such as dogberry, briar/brier rose, wild briar, eglantine gall, sweet briar, hep tree, hip fruit, hip rose, hip tree, hop fruit, hogseed, herb patience, witches' briar, or briar hip. Various reasons are attributed to the “dog rose” common name ranging from 'dog' as a negative meaning indicating worthlessness compared to modern roses, to reports of the plant being used to treat rabid dog bites, again another reason why the name may have arose (excuse the pun). It is a deciduous shrub normally ranging in height from 1–5 m, though sometimes it can scramble higher into the crowns of taller trees. Its stems are covered with small, sharp, hooked prickles, which aid it in climbing. The leaves are pinnate, with 5-7 leaflets. The flowers are usually pale pink, but can vary between a deep pink and white. They are 4–6 cm diameter with five petals, and mature into an oval 1.5–2 cm red-orange fruit, or hip. The botanic name is derived from the common names 'dog rose' or similar in several European languages. It is known that it was used in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to treat the bite of rabid dogs, hence the name "dog rose" may result from this.

Habitat:

The types of soils that dog roses cope with are wide ranging, even encompassing heavy clay. It will tend to succeed in all soils except those that are extremely wet or dry, provided it has access to a fair bit of sunlight. So now that you know dog rose will grow for you, what will it offer you in leaf, flower and fruit?

Notes:

The plant is high in certain antioxidants. The fruit is noted for its high vitamin C level and is used to make syrup, tea and marmalade. It has been grown or encouraged in the wild for the production of vitamin C, from its fruit (often as rose-hip syrup), especially during conditions of scarcity or during wartime. Thus to provide a substitute to oranges and other citrus fruits which was unable to get to Ireland and England due to U-boat blockades. The rose petals can be used to make a scented jam.