The best wild roses for...

Hedges R. rugosa

Flowers are made up of hot pink petals that look like crumpled silk, arranged around golden stamens. They have a strong rose fragrance and give way to fat, red hips resembling tomatoes. A robust, healthy plant. H&S: 2m (7ft).

R. pimpinellifolia

Also known as the burnet rose and long associated with Scotland. Makes a medium-sized bush covered in masses of creamy-white flowers from April to May, followed by blackish hips. Likes free-draining soil. H&S: 3ft (90cm).

R. 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).

Hips R. setipoda

Features gorgeous pale-pink single blooms that sit amongst attractive midgreen foliage in summer, giving off a light fragrance. These are followed by longlasting (autumn to winter), orange-red, elongated hips. HxS: 8x61/2ft (2½x2m).

R. moyesii ‘Geranium’ AGM

Strikingly beautiful single blooms feature rich-red petals surrounding a ring of stamens – like intricately woven precious metal. Eye-catching space rocket-shaped red hips cover the arching stems in autumn. Full sun. HxS: 8x61/2ft (2½x2m).

R. rugosa ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup’ AGM

Another rugosa rose; plant for soft-pink petals featuring delicate veining, and red hips. Unlike most species roses, it repeat flowers from June to October, so you can have hips and flowers at the same time. HxS: 3x4ft (90cmx1.2m).

Fragrance R. primula

One of the first to flower – the delicate primrose yellow blooms emerge in midMay. Also features lovely fern-like foliage, plus a good scent: an aroma like incense that wafts through the air – it’s strongest after rain. HxS: 6x8ft (1.8x2½m).

R. rubiginosa

The sweet briar rose is free-flowering, with a mass of blooms in pink, fading to white in the centre. Foliage is mid-green and has a delicious apple scent that gets more pungent in humid air or rain. Makes a sturdy, thorny bush. H&S: 8ft (2½m).

R. ÔMacranthaÕ

From June to July the long, arching stems are dotted with large, single flowers in the faintest of pinks, while autumn brings round, red hips held in drooping clusters. The fragrance is strong and musky. H: 5x8ft (1.5x2½m).