Sweetbriar Rose

Scientific Name: Rosa rubiginosa L.


Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Rosales / Rosaceae / Rosa L./ Rosa rubiginosa L.

Sweetbriar Rose
General Information
Usda SymbolRORU82
GroupDicot
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsSubshrub
Native LocationsRORU82

Plant Guide

Alternate Names

Common Alternate Names: eglantine rose (USDA ARS, 2012) Scientific Alternate Names: Rosa eglanteria L. (USDA ARS, 2012)

Uses

Rosa rubiginosa is valued by gardeners for its sweet, apple-like fragrance. It is often misidentified as a desirable species in natural areas and mistakenly planted for wildlife habitat. This rose can be very aggressive and dominate an area within a few years. It should not be planted in a home landscape, for wildlife habitat, or for any other use.

Weediness

This plant is weedy and invasive in some regions or habitats and may displace desirable vegetation (Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, 2012). Consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service office, state natural resource, or state agriculture department regarding its status. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS Web site at http://plants.usda.gov/. Please consult the Related Web Sites on the Plant Profile for this species for further information.

Description

General: Rose family (Rosaceae). Rosa rubiginosa is a shrub introduced from Europe. It grows up to 10 feet tall and has multiple arching stems. Stems have thorns that are stout, flattened, downward-curving and unequal in size. Leaves are alternate and pinnately divided into 5 to 7 leaflets with doubly serrated margins and gland-tipped teeth. The undersides of leaves have hairs and stalked glands that impart a sweet aroma when crushed. Flowers are solitary or in small clusters at the ends of branches and bloom in June to July. Flowers have five pale to dark pink petals 0.6 to 0.8 inches long, five sepals, usually 10 or more pistils, and multiple stamens. Sepals have slender lateral lobes and stalked glands, curve backward at the time of anthesis and are deciduous. Fruits ripen in September to October, are smooth, bright red, 0.4 to 0.6 inches long, and persist on the plant after ripening. Plants reproduce sexually by seed and vegetatively by layering and suckering (Hitchcock and Cronquist 1973; Young and Young, 1992; Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture 2012). Rosa rubiginosa flowers. Richard Old, XIDservices.com Distribution: Rosa rubiginosa grows in most states and provinces throughout the US and Canada. For current distribution, consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Habitat: This plant is found along roadsides, in pastures, Conservation Reserve Program fields, and natural areas.

Adaptation

Sweetbriar rose is adapted to all soil types with moderate fertility, and can tolerate moderate saline conditions (USDA NRCS, 2012). It requires 18 to 45 inches of

http://plants.usda.gov/ annual precipitation. It is not shade tolerant (USDA NRCS, 2012). Fruit (rose hips) of Rosa rubiginosa. Pamela Pavek Thorns on lower stems of Rosa rubiginosa. Pamela Pavek

Pests and Potential Problems

Numerous galls are often found on Rosa rubiginosa stems. The galls are caused by a gall-forming wasp (Diplolepis rosae) which, like the plant, is a European species. The galls do not cause any harm, and are hosts for parasitoid wasps. The plant is susceptible to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa var. rosae) and downy mildew (Perenospora sparsa).

Environmental Concerns

Concerns

Concerns

Birds and other wildlife eat the hips of sweetbriar rose and spread the seed. Areas invaded with sweetbriar rose can become dominated by the plant, resulting in a decline in native plant species and other desirable vegetation. The forage value of pastures with sweetbriar rose decreases rapidly following the invasion and spread of the plant. In addition, sweetbriar rose impedes the movement of livestock, wildlife and vehicles.

Control

Sweetbriar rose is difficult to control due to its large size and regeneration from sprouts. Control often requires multiple years of treatment. Plants can be eliminated by extracting from the ground with an ATV or other vehicle in the spring, then spraying the sprouts that emerge with an herbicide. In areas where plants are numerous, mowing with a brush machine will facilitate herbicide application. Effective herbicides include glyphosate, picloram plus 2-4-D, and triclopyr ester (Peachey, 2012). Contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

Seeds and Plant Production

Plant Production

Plant Production

Rosa rubiginosa has 31,000 seeds per pound (USDA NRCS, 2012). The seed does not require a stratification period if it is fresh, however if it has a chance to dry, a stratification period is required to break dormancy (Young and Young, 1992). Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) This plant is sold by garden nurseries and numerous cultivars are available. However, gardeners should consider its invasive nature before planting. Spread of its seed by birds and wildlife cannot be prevented unless the rose hips are removed soon after development. Several native rose species are available as alternatives that have similar aesthetic attributes and pose no threat to surrounding plant communities.

References

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. 2012. Available at ttp://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagec ollection.php (accessed 3 Oct 2012). University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. 2010. Available at http://www.invasive.org (accessed 29 Nov 2012). University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Hitchcock, C.L. and A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle and London. Peachey, E. (ed.) 2012. Northwest Weed

Management

Handbook, Available at http://pnwhandbooks,org/weed/ (accessed 3 Oct 2012), Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USDA ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), 2012, Available at http://www,ars-grin,gov/cgi- bin/npgs/html/taxon,pl?5337 (accessed 5 October 2012), National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, USDA NRCS, 2012, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Sweetbriar Rose., The PLANTS Database, Available at http://plants,usda,gov (accessed 5 October 2012), National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC, Young, J,A, and C,G, Young, 1992, Seeds of Woody Plants of North America, Disocorides Press, Portland, OR,

Prepared By

Pamela L.S. Pavek, USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman, Washington Citation Pavek, P.L.S. 2012. Plant guide for sweetbriar rose (Rosa rubiginosa L.). USDA-Natural Resources

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Temperature, Minimum (°F)-33
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
CaCO3 ToleranceHigh
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Drought ToleranceMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fire ToleranceHigh
Frost Free Days, Minimum100
Hedge ToleranceMedium
Moisture UseMedium
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Minimum5.2
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim4800
Planting Density per Acre, Minim2700
Precipitation, Maximum45
Precipitation, Minimum32
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)20
Salinity ToleranceMedium
Shade ToleranceIntolerant


Morphology/Physiology

BloatNone
ToxicityNone
Resprout AbilityYes
Shape and OrientationErect
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
C:N RatioHigh
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousYes
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorRed
Flower ConspicuousYes
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureCoarse
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)10.0
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee10
Growth RateModerate
Growth FormMultiple Stem
Fruit/Seed ColorPurple


Reproduction

Vegetative Spread RateModerate
Small GrainNo
Seedling VigorMedium
Seed Spread RateSlow
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Seed per Pound31000
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Bloom PeriodEarly Summer
Propagated by CuttingsNo


Suitability/Use

Veneer ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Post ProductNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Sweetbriar Rose

Sweetbriar Rose

Sweetbriar Rose

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