Dog Rose

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iDog Rose

Dog Rose in flower

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Subfamily:	Rosoideae
Genus:	Rosa
Species:	R. canina

Binomial name

Rosa canina
L.

The Dog Rose (Rosa canina) is a variable scrambling rose species native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia. It has also been introduced to other temperate latitudes. It normally ranges in height from 1-5 m, though sometimes it can scramble into the crowns of even taller trees. Its stems are covered with small sharp spines, which aid it in climbing.

The flowers are usually pale pink, but can vary between a deep pink and white. They are 4-6 cm diameter with five petals, and mature into an oval 1.5-2 cm red-orange fruit, or hip. The plant is high in certain antioxidants. The fruit is noted for its high vitamin C level and is used to make syrup, tea and marmalade.

[edit] Cultivation and uses

It has been grown or encouraged in the wild for the production of vitamin C, from its fruit (often as rose-hip syrup), especially during conditions of scarcity or wartime. During World War II in the United States Rosa canina was planted in victory gardens, and can still be found growing in wet, sandy areas up and down the eastern U.S. coastline.

Forms of this plant are sometimes used as stocks for the grafting or budding of cultivated varieties.

The wild plant is planted as a nurse or cover crop, or stabilising plant in land reclamation and specialised landscaping schemes.

Numerous cultivars and sub-species have been named, though few are common in cultivation. The cultivar Rosa canina 'Assisiensis' is the only dog rose without thorns.

The fruit of the dog rose is used as a flavoring in the Slovenian soft drink Cockta.