Rosa spinosissima 'Dunwich Rose'
Dunwich rose
Europe and western Asia (parent species)
Overview
Rosa spinosissima 'Dunwich Rose' is a low, spreading, suckering shrub in the Scots or burnet rose group, derived from Rosa spinosissima and found growing on the Suffolk coast at Dunwich. It forms a dense, arching mound 24–36 inches (60–90 cm) tall and 4–6 feet (1.2–1.8 m) wide, spreading by suckers into broad colonies. The wiry stems are thickly set with slender straight prickles and bristles, and the small ferny leaves have 7–11 rounded leaflets 0.3–0.6 inch (0.8–1.5 cm) long that turn bronze in autumn. In late spring to early summer the shrub bears single, five-petalled flowers about 1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm) across in pale creamy yellow with golden stamens and a soft scent. Flowering is a single early flush. Small, rounded, dark maroon to black hips follow in late summer. The rose tolerates poor, dry, sandy soil, salt, and exposure once established, though it suckers freely and forms wide colonies, and its dense prickles make it hard to handle. Hardiness covers USDA zones 4–8. It is grown as low ground cover, on dry banks, and in coastal and wild gardens.
Native Range
Rosa spinosissima 'Dunwich Rose' is a wild-collected form of the burnet rose, Rosa spinosissima, originally found in coastal sand dunes at Dunwich in Suffolk, England. The species itself is native across Europe and western Asia on dunes, heaths, and dry calcareous grassland.Suggested Uses
Rosa spinosissima 'Dunwich Rose' is grown as low ground cover, on dry sunny banks, and in coastal, gravel, and wild gardens where its suckering habit binds sandy soil. It works as an informal low thicket. The early scented cream flowers and dark hips suit naturalistic plantings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2' - 3'
Width/Spread4' - 6'
Bloom Information
Flowering is a single early flush in late spring to early summer, around May to June in the Northern Hemisphere, lasting roughly 3–4 weeks. The shrub does not repeat-bloom. Small round dark maroon to black hips develop from late summer. The ferny foliage turns bronze in autumn before leaf fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Dark green, bronze in autumnGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Rosa spinosissima 'Dunwich Rose' in full sun in well-drained soil, including poor, dry, and sandy ground. It is very cold tolerant and withstands coastal salt and exposure. Because it spreads by suckers into wide colonies, it is given room or contained where its spread is unwanted. Little feeding is needed, and burnet roses carry low black spot pressure. Water during the first season and in extended drought on light soils. The plant flowers on older wood, so heavy annual pruning is not required.Pruning
Rosa spinosissima 'Dunwich Rose' flowers on the previous year's wood and needs little pruning beyond removing dead, weak, or crowded stems after the early-summer flush. Suckers are dug out to limit the colony where a contained plant is wanted. Old colonies are thinned by cutting some of the oldest stems to the base in winter.Pruning Schedule
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