The Biggest Hips of All (Roses)

Member Name: Aspen

Product:	Roses
Date:	04/03/01 (1050 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Colourful, scented, some make good prickly hedges.

Disadvantages: Prickly!

I have a confession to make. I tend to go off the beaten track a little. Occasionally.

Oh, you know that already?

Well, it will come as no great surprise to discover that this is not about the large flowered Hybrid Teas, which are all most folks think of when they think of roses. No. I reckon they are so well known, they can speak for themselves. I’m going to speak up for the lesser known ones; those members of the rose family lurking quietly in the background, patiently waiting for their moment of glory.

Let me introduce a few.



ROSA RUGOSA

Sometimes known as the Ramanas Rose, Rosa rugosa is widely planted as hedging. It can grow up to 1.5 or 2m high, and produces masses of prickly stems. It suckers freely, and so in a fairly short time, produces a spikey thicket which will deter the most persistent intruder, drunk, or wandering doggy. It is therefore a good choice for boundaries. However, it cannot be clipped successfully in to a formal hedge shape, and is probably more suitable in rural areas, or as a back garden hedge.

Rugosa is as tough as old boots. It is a favourite hedging plant in the wilds of Caithness, where it grows and thrives in an environment where anything standing still is rapidly caked in salt from the sea-spray. Or would be, if the wind let up long enough to allow anything to stand still. Despite originating in S E Asia, Rosa rugosa will absorb anything our climate can throw at it, wherever in this island you may live.

Rugosa itself has pink flowers; Rugosa alba has white flowers; and Rugosa rubra has red flowers. All have a long flowering season, and the flowers are followed by the biggest rosehips of all the family. These hips are quite unusual, being round and flattish, rather than cylindrical like most of the relatives.

It is deciduous, of course, and so nothing special to look at in winter, after the birds have had the hips. But it remains a functional
hedge, all the same.

It is parent to many hybrids, and cultivated shrub roses in particular, like Roseraie de l’Hay and Frau Dagmar Hastrop. It is also used as a rootstock by nurserymen, for grafting less vigorous varieties.


ROSA PIMPINELLIFOLIA

Also known botanically as Rosa spinosissima, and commonly as the Scotch or Burnet Rose, this has to be the prickliest of a pretty prickly family! It only grows up to about a metre, and does not sucker as profusely as rugosa, but it too will make a good informal hedge. The stems grow erect, and the leaves are a very dark green. The flowers, which appear in profusion in may and June, are usually white, but can sometimes be pale pink. The hips are quite small, but are unusual in being a very dark maroon, and indeed often black.

Pimpinellifolia is also the parent of many hybrids, one of the better known being Rosa pimpinellifolia Lutea, which has a lovely single yellow flower.


ROSA RUBRIFOLIA

Or Rosa glauca, but sadly without a common name to my knowledge. But it definitely ranks highly among my favourites. Roses are grown, of course, for their flowers. Rarely are they considered as foliage plants. Well, consider this!

Rubrifolia has reddish-violet stems, which are almost thornless. These stems carry a remarkable foliage, which is glaucous-purple in full sun, and greyish with a mauve tinge in shade. I wish I could describe these colours so that you can visualise them! The bright pink flowers are a bonus, and this is a wonderful foil plant for the back of a border.


ROSA WICHURAIANA

This one is sometimes known as the Memorial Rose, and is a little bit different. It is low-growing, and semi-evergreen. Its trailing stems can grow up to 6m long. It is excellent ground cover, as the stems will root at intervals as they spread. Use it to cover a scruffy bank, or try growing beside an old tree stump, which it will clothe in no time at
all. It produces clusters of white flowers in late summer, and they are highly fragrant.

Wichuraiana is the parent of that very well known rambling rose, Albertine, which holds an RHS Garden Merit Award.


And talking of ramblers, I’d better not ramble too much longer. I guess only die-hard gardeners will have persevered this far, and I don’t want to be responsible for anyone dozing off.

So I’ll just give a brief mention to a couple more, which are worthy of note.


ROSA VIRGINIANA

This one justifies its inclusion here for its autumn colour. The leaves turn first to purple, then to orange, crimson and yellow, though not necessarily in that order!


ROSA RUBIGINOSA

This is Eglantine or Sweet Briar. Do not overlook it just because it’s a native. Both flowers and foliage are wonderfully aromatic, and if you have room, it makes a fragrant but impenetrable hedge.


So when you think of roses, don’t just think of Hybrid Teas, or Floribundas, or even Cadburys. Open your mind to a whole new rose experience!


And the inevitable alcoholic footnote.

Yes you can. Not only from the hips, but from the petals, too. In fact rose petal wine is one of the best I’ve ever made. Scented petals are best, and produce a bouquet . . (waxes lyrically off the bottom of the page . . .)

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