Rosa officinalis
apothecary's rose
Small, bushy shrub rose of great antiquity, about 90cm tall and wide, with dull greyish-green foliage. Profuse, highly fragrant, semi-double, rosy-crimson blooms to 8cm across, with prominent yellow anthers, once-flowering in early summer, followed by small orange-red oval fruits (hips); from 1310
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.5–1 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Red | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | Orange Red | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H7Botanical details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamentl - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
- Genus
Rosa can be deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs or scrambling climbers, with usually thorny stems bearing compound pinnate leaves and solitary or clustered flowers. Flowers may be followed by showy red or purple fruits in some varieties.
- Name status
Correct
- Horticultural Group
- Gallica roses are compact, prickly shrubs with dull green foliage and generally fragrant, single to double flowers in small clusters in mid-summer
- Plant range
- C & S Europe
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows best in full sun with fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. For best flowering apply a balanced fertiliser and mulch in late winter or early spring - see rose cultivation. Tolerant of poor soil and shade. Suitable for hedging
Propagation
Propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn or by chip budding in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Coastal
- Wildlife gardens
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cut flowers
- Flower borders and beds
- Hedging and screens
Pruning
See pruning group 20 (shrub roses); don't prune after flowering if fruit (hips) are required
Pests
May be susceptible to rose aphid, rose leafhopper, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, caterpillars, large rose sawfly and rose leaf-rolling sawfly. Deer and rabbits can cause damage
Diseases
May be susceptible to rose black spot, rose rust, replant disease, rose dieback, and rose powdery mildew and sometimes honey fungus. May also be susceptible to disorders rose blindness and flower balling
Get involved
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