“Wild roses are tough, and great for birds and insects,” says Louise
Wild roses are tough, colourful and great for insects and birds, so take a walk on the wild side when choosing a bare-root rose to plant this autumn, says Louise Curley
GIVEN that roses are the quintessential summer plant, it might seem odd to be thinking about them now. Yet autumn is actually the best time to plant roses. Buy one of the bare-root roses currently available, and not only will it establish quickly in the warm autumn soil, but it will also save you money as they’re cheaper than container-grown plants – and there are more varieties to choose from.
When browsing the many options on offer, rather than picking a classic garden rose why not try something different and find space for a wild rose instead?
Known botanically as species roses, wild roses were the original roses. They have been around for thousands of years, are revered by cultures all over the world and are the parents of every one of the hybrid roses you find in most gardens today.
The genetic history of roses is a complicated one – cross-breeding has continually produced long-flowering cultivars with ever-more voluptuous blooms. Wild roses, however, are roses in their simplest, most unadulterated form. They generally produce thickets of growth and are covered in a fleeting flush of single flowers that tend to be made up of five petals.
While most wild roses don’t repeat flower, their stunning hips more than make up for this, lighting up the autumn and winter garden with glowing red fruit. They’re also fantastic for wildlife – the flowers are loved by pollinating insects and the hips provide a food source for birds in the bleakest months of the year.
Used to holding their own in the wild, these are hardy, robust plants. They tend to be unfussy about soil conditions – as long as they’re not waterlogged – and are less prone to the pests and diseases that can be problematic for cultivated roses. Some have a vigorous nature and require space to thrive, but others can be easily incorporated into borders.
Wild roses are thorny specimens – a crucial adaptation that protects them from grazing predators while allowing them to scramble through other plants. This can be off-putting, but the spikes do have some advantages: they make great hedges if you want to keep out unwanted visitors – human or animal. And the thorns of Rosa pteracantha –a bit like translucent scarlet mini shark fins – are as beautiful as they are sharp.