Rosa sempervirens (27/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to light shade
Flowering period: Spring to early summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 4m
Eventual Spread: 2.5m
HardinessHardiness: 6b – 9b
Family: Rosaceae
Rosa sempervirens is a vigorous, evergreen Rose with a rambling habit . Its glossy dark green leaves are compound pinate. Its individual leaflets are ovate with serrulate margins, up to 6cm long an 3cm broad. Its stems are slightly thorny which enables this Rose to climb. Its white fragrant flowers are single and up to 5cm across. Its fruit is a shiny red/ orange hip and up to 1cm across.
Rosa sempervirens Leaf (27/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Rosa sempervirens, commonly known as the Evergreen Rose, is native to Mediterranean Europe and north Africa. In its native habitat it grows in scrubby thickets.
The etymological root of the binomial name Rosa is from the ancient Latin for the Rose plant. Sempervirens is from the Latin semper meaning ‘always’ and virens meaning ‘herbage’, in reference to this plant being evergreen.
Rosa sempervirens Hips (27/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
The landscape architect may find Rosa sempervirens useful as an informal barrier plant. It may also be grown up structures and can be used to screen unsightly objects.
Ecologically, Rosa sempervirens flowers are attractive to pollinating insects. Its hips are attractive to some birds and mammals.
Rosa sempervirens Stem (27/01/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Rosa sempervirens prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Rosa sempervirens requires little maintenance. Formative pruning should be carried out in late summer after the flowers have gone.
