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Rosa
canina or Dog Rose is a variable scrambling rose species
native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. It
is a deciduous shrub normally ranging in height from 1-5
m. They are used to catch onto surrounding shrubs.
The long arching stems are green to purple and have
strong, curved prickles, on a base 15 mm long. The
alternate leaves have 5-7 leaflets, 15-40 mm long, which
have single or double-toothed saw-edges, and are usually
hairless on both surfaces. Large, leafy stipules, which
runs up the leaf stalks, is about 2 cm long. Dog roses
can be either self-supporting or climbers; the tallest
specimens invariably use other plants for support. They
make wonderful displays in the hedgerows during June and
July.
The white or pink, 5-petalled flowers are 4-6 cm across
and in clusters of 1-5. The styles in the centre of the
flower are joined together into a persistent, slender
column and mature into an oval 1.5-2 cm red-orange fruit,
or hip. They open in June and July and develop into red
hips ripe in autumn. They are mildly fragrant.
Hardiness zones: 4-9 (-32°C/-25°F, -5°C/25°F) in
winter. It thrives on a wide range of soils, except very
dry or waterlogged ones. Once established, provide with
ample water and sunlight; very good drainage is a must,
though heavier soils also tolerated.
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