Seasonal Wild Flowers

Japanese Rose

Rosa rugosa

Rosaceae

May to July

It is found patchily throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Japanese Rose

Japanese Rose is a neophyte, which has been naturalised

in the UK since the 1920s. It is planted as a colouful,

robust hedge.

The GB Non Native Species Secretariat classes it as a

non-invasive alien.

It is naturalised in waste ground, hedgerows, tracks and

roadsides and in coastal habitats such as dunes, cliffs

and sea walls.

It is a suckering shrub forming extensive thickets up

to 2m high.

The flowers are usually reddish-purple, sometimes

white, and up to 8cm across

The flowers have a prominent ring of pale, orange

anthers.

Leaves are dark green, pinnate and crinkly.

Fruits are large and cauldron-shaped.

Stems are robust and prickly.

Purple and white Japanese roses

Purple flower - stamens

White flower

Close-up of stamens and bee

Fruits

Leaves