Height40-60cm

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Native UK wild rose (more common in southern England/Wales; scarcer further north). Vigorous, low-maintenance rambler/scrambler ideal for wildlife gardens, mixed native hedges, woodland edges, banks, or ground cover.

Produces slightly fragrant single creamy-white flowers with prominent golden stamens in midsummer (June–August), followed by attractive orange-red hips. Excellent for pollinators (bees, moths, butterflies), birds, and small mammals; tolerant of shade, poor soils, drought once established, and some salt spray.

Key planting points

• When: Best late autumn to early spring (November–March) while dormant; bare-root preferred for hedging.. 
• Where: Full sun to partial shade (tolerates more shade than most roses; good for woodland edges or hedgerows). Exposed or sheltered sites.
• Soil: Adaptable to clay, loam, or sand; prefers moist but well-drained, moderately fertile, humus-rich soil. Tolerates most pH (acid to alkaline) and poorer conditions. Avoid waterlogging.
• Size & habit: Reaches 2.5–4 m high × 1.5–2.5 m spread (or lower as a mound if unsupported); fast-growing with long arching/scrambling thorny purple stems. Provide support (fence, shrubs, or trellis) if rambling is desired.
• How to plant: Dig a hole/trench twice as wide as the roots (same depth). Mix in organic matter (compost/leaf mould). Plant with root flare at soil level; firm in well. For mixed hedges: 5–7 plants per metre in staggered double rows ~30–40 cm apart. Space specimens ~1–1.2 m apart. Water thoroughly after planting and mulch.
• Aftercare: Water regularly in the first year during dry spells. Mulch and optionally apply balanced fertiliser in late winter/early spring. Prune lightly in winter or hard in early spring for denser growth (as for climbing roses). Low maintenance once established; generally good disease resistance.

Fully hardy across most of the UK. Ideal for naturalistic and wildlife-friendly planting.

Photo credit: Rosa-Maria Rinkl, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)