What is the Dog Rose (Rosa Canina)?
The Dog rose (Rosa canina) is amongst the most popular ornamental roses. Dog roses are often used in gardens, parks, and flower beds, as well as in landscape projects. They are also popular for their showy flowers, which can be brightly colored and have a long life. Dog roses are typically easy to grow and require little maintenance. They make a beautiful addition to any garden or flower arrangement.
The dog rose (Rosa canina) belongs to the Rosacea family and is a thorny shrub that is native to Europe, western and central Asia. It is usually a deciduous shrub but can be an evergreen shrub in cooler climates. Dog rose is a type species of the genus Rosa (Roses). The flowers are typically pink, but can also be white with about five petals that are 4-6 cm long and 2-3 cm wide. The flowers are pollinated by bees, and the fruit is a capsule that contains seeds. The dog rose typically grows to a height of 1-3 m. The dog rose blooms in early summer, June/July, and the flowers will start to wilt shortly after they have bloomed. The dog rose is generally hardy in Zones 3-8.
What is the Distribution of Dog Rose (Rosa Canina)?
Dog rose (Rosa canina) is usually found in temperate climates and soils but can be found in different parts of the world.
The dog rose grows as an annual or perennial flower. This wild rose occurs at forest edges, in hedges and thickets, and also along roads (here in Belgium often planted).
There are many types of wild roses, but the dog rose is the most popular.
How did the Dog Rose (Rosa canina) get its Name?
The dog rose species is commonly known as Rosa canina. Rosa canina is the scientific name for the dog rose. The name “dog rose” is derived from the fact that people used to believe that the plant’s root could cure the bite of a mad dog. It was historically used to treat bites from rabid dogs.
What are the Parts of the Dog Rose?
- The dog rose has 5 petals that are pale pink to deep pink or white. The flowers are also typically fragrant, and they have long stems.
- The branches are arching or slightly climbing (with the spines). There are many hooked spines with discoid bases on these branches.
- The leaves on these branches are glabrous, green, or blue-green on both sides. Usually without glandular hairs and the leaves are toothed. The side leaves are opposite of each other.
- The rose hips are bright red and narrowly ovate.
What are the Cultivation and Uses of the Dog Rose?
Dog rose (Rosa canina) is often used in residential landscaping and cultivation but dog roses can also be used as cut flowers.
Dog roses are also often used in perfumes, cosmetics, and other products. The petals of the dog rose are used to make a deep red color that is popular in many fragrances. The fragrance of dog roses is often described as sweet, floral, and fruity.
Flowers and fruits are both edible.
Popular uses of the Dog Rose:
- The fresh fruits (hips) contain a lot of vitamin C, which is also not lost when processed into jam, syrups, and tea.
- From the dried pericarp, one makes resistance-enhancing tea, against colds.
- For medicinal purposes, whole hips are used. The oil from the seeds is used to treat scars and smooth wrinkles.
- The roses’ hips have been used traditionally as a remedy for treating arthritis, rheumatism, and colds.
- In Bach flower therapy, one takes a ‘wild rose’ (dog rose) against apathy.
- The rose petals can be added to a salad and eaten raw.
- The candied fruits are also good as garnish.
Side Effects: Dog Rose is safe to use in moderation.
There are many benefits to using the rose hips of the dog rose, but like with all things, there are also some potential side effects. The good news is that these side effects are rare and only occur when dog rose is used in large quantities. The most common side effect is an upset stomach, which can be avoided by taking dog rose with food. Other potential side effects include headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Overall, dog rose is a safe herb to use in moderation.
What are the Pests and Diseases of the Dog Rose?
Many of these pests and diseases can be serious threats to the health of the dog rose and can ultimately lead to its death. It is important to keep your dog roses healthy by using appropriate pest control measures and by monitoring for signs of disease.
Some of the most common pests and diseases include aphids, caterpillars, leafhoppers, thrips, spider mites, whiteflies, rose slugs (rose sawflies), rose rosettes, and downy mildew.
Short Explanations of some Pests and Diseases:
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap.
Spider mites are small arachnids that damage plants by sucking the fluids out of their cells.
Whiteflies are small, winged insects that cause damage to roses when they feed on the sap from the plants, causing them to turn yellow and dry.
Rose rosette disease, also known as witches’ broom in roses, is caused by a virus carried by a tiny mite.
Downy mildew is a fungus that damages plants by producing purple-red to dark-brown or black spots on the leaves.
What is the Value to Wildlife of the Dog Rose?
The dog rose is an important plant for wildlife, as it is a source of food and habitat. The flowers are consumed by insects, and they are used as a source of nectar by bees and other pollinators, which helps to promote the growth of beneficial plants. The rose hips are eaten by birds and other mammals.
Some of the mammals that eat rose hips include rodents, rabbits, and deer. The rose hip is an important part of their diet because it is high in nutrients and antioxidants. These nutrients help to protect the animal’s health and enable them to survive in difficult environments.
In conclusion, the dog rose has a long and varied history, with many uses and values attributed to it. It is a hardy, adaptable plant that is easy to grow and maintain, making it a valuable addition to any garden. With its beautiful blooms and delicious fruit, the dog rose is worth considering for your next gardening project.
Macro Photography
The image above and the images here below were taken in my backyard, just handheld. The camera I used was a DSLR Canon EOS 750D with a macro lens from Sigma. I did not use any filters.
These three macro shots were imaged during a beautiful day in the summer. I always learn a lot of new things when doing macro photography… like new plants, and insects, and appreciate all these. When I was looking for the name of this plant, a couple of years ago, to find the name of this plant, I wasn’t aware that it is a wild rose and for sure not that it’s called “the Dog Rose”. I think it’s a bit of an odd name for a rose and would never have thought of a name like this :-).
Image details (Images 1, 2 &3 )
- Camera: Canon EOS 750D DSLR
- Camera lens: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro OS HSM
- Camera tripod: No tripod, just handheld
- Filter: No filter
