<p>Rosa rubiginosa (or 'Sweetbriar' or 'Eglantine') is a native of the British Isles, Europe, and Scandinavia - found on chalk or lime soils, and producing a thorny, prickly bush to about 2m in height and spread. The characteristic way to identify R. rubiginosa and avoid confusion with the 'Dog' rose (R. canina)which has very similar flowers - single and flat typically ranging from white through shades of pink) is via the sweet scent of the foliage. In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Act 2, Scene 1,one of the best known passages in the whole of the Shakespeare canon reads "I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, with sweet musk-roses and with eglantine: There sleeps Titania sometime of the night". The 'Eglantine' of Oberon's speech is the Sweet Briar - so named for the sweet apple-like scent that comes from the flowers and glands on the undersides of its leaves - and briar: because its a rather prickly plant at best!. (Selected varieties include: 'Lord Penzance' and 'Stanwell Perpetual').</p>
<p>For planting advice, see <a href="https://rvroger.co.uk/blog/planting-containerised-roses/">Planting Containerised Roses - RV Roger Ltd</a></p>
<p>For pruning advice, see <a href="https://rvroger.co.uk/blog/a-guide-to-pruning-roses/">A Guide to Pruning Roses - RV Roger Ltd</a></p>
<p>Or else email our highly skilled team with any questions and we will be only too happy to try and help <a href="mailto:sales@rvroger.co.uk">sales@rvroger.co.uk</a></p>
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Sweet Briar
Rosa rubiginosa (or 'Sweetbriar' or 'Eglantine') is a native of the British Isles, Europe, and Scandinavia - found on chalk or lime soils, and producing a thorny, prickly bush to about 2m in height and spread. The characteristic way to identify R. rubiginosa and avoid confusion with the 'Dog' rose (R. canina)which has very similar flowers - single and flat typically ranging from white through shades of pink) is via the sweet scent of the foliage. In 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Act 2, Scene 1,one of the best known passages in the whole of the Shakespeare canon reads "I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, with sweet musk-roses and with eglantine: There sleeps Titania sometime of the night". The 'Eglantine' of Oberon's speech is the Sweet Briar - so named for the sweet apple-like scent that comes from the flowers and glands on the undersides of its leaves - and briar: because its a rather prickly plant at best!. (Selected varieties include: 'Lord Penzance' and 'Stanwell Perpetual').
For planting advice, see Planting Containerised Roses - RV Roger Ltd
For pruning advice, see A Guide to Pruning Roses - RV Roger Ltd
Or else email our highly skilled team with any questions and we will be only too happy to try and help sales@rvroger.co.uk
