Rosa longicuspis (27/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Late spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 6m
Eventual Spread: 6m
Hardiness: 6b – 9b
Family: Rosaceae
Rosa longicuspis is a vigorous evergreen rambling Rose. Its glossy dark green leaves are compound pinate with up to 7 leaflets. Its individual leaflets are narrowly ovate with serrulate margins, up to 10cm long an 4cm broad. Its stems are very thorny which enables this Rose to climb. Its white fragrant flowers are single, up to 5cm across and appear in panicles of up to 15. Its fruit is a shiny red/ orange hip and up to 2cm long.
Rosa longicuspis Leaf (27/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Rosa longicuspis, commonly known as the Wild Rose, is native to eastern Himalayas. In its native habit it grows in thickets.
The etymological root of the binomial name Rosa is from the ancient Latin term for the rose. Longicuspis is derived from the Latin longus meaning ‘long’ and cuspis meaning ‘point’.
The landscape architect may find Rosa longicuspis useful as an informal barrier plant. It may also be grown up structures and can be used to screen unsightly objects.
Rosa longicuspis Stem (27/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Rosa longicuspis flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. The hips are attractive to birds and some mammals.
Rosa longicuspis prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Rosa longicuspis requires little maintenance. Formative pruning should be carried out in late summer after the flowers have gone.
