9 unbeatable wild roses
For hedges Rosa pimpinellifolia
Also known as the burnet rose and long associated with Scotland. Makes a medium-sized bush that’s covered in masses of creamy-white flowers in AprilMay, followed by blackish hips. Likes free-draining soil. H&S: 3ft (90cm).
Rosa rugosa
Features flowers made up of hot-pink petals that look like crumpled silk, arranged around golden stamens. Also has a strong rose fragrance and fat red hips resembling tomatoes. A robust, healthy plant. H&S: 2m (7ft).
Rosa canina
The thorny stems of the dog rose grow quickly to form an impenetrable hedge. Its fragrant white flowers are blushed pink – bees love them – while the glossy red hips add colour in autumn. Good in coastal gardens. H&S: 61⁄2ft (2m).
For hips Rosa setipoda
In summer the gorgeous pale-pink single blooms sit among attractive mid-green foliage and give off a light fragrance. These are followed by orange-red, elongated hips that last from autumn through to winter. H&S: 8x61⁄2ft (21⁄2x2m).
Rosa moyesii ‘Geranium’ AGm
A strikingly beautiful single rose, with rich-red petals surrounding a ring of stamens like intricately woven precious metal. Eye-catching space rocketshaped red hips cover arching stems in autumn. Full sun. HxS: 8x61⁄2ft (21⁄2x2m).
Rosa rugosa ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’ AGm
Another rugosa rose, this one has softpink petals featuring delicate veining. It also repeat flowers (unlike most species roses) from June-October, which means you can have red hips and flowers at the same time. HxS: 3x4ft (90cmx1.2m).
For fragrance Rosa primula
One of the first roses to flower – the delicate primrose-yellow blooms emerge in mid-May. Lovely fern-like foliage, plus a good fragrance: an aroma like incense that wafts through the air, particularly after it has rained. HxS: 6x8ft (1.8x21⁄2m).
Rosa rubiginosa
The sweet briar rose is free-flowering, with pink blooms that fade to white in the centre. The mid-green foliage has a delicious apple fragrance that’s at its strongest in humid air or rain. Makes a sturdy, thorny bush. H&S: 8ft (21⁄2m).
Rosa macrantha
From June to July long, arching stems are dotted with large single flowers in the faintest of pinks, while the round red autumn hips are held in drooping clusters. The fragrance is strong and musky. H: 5x8ft (11⁄2x21⁄2m).