Plant encyclopedia›dog rose

dog rose

Also known as: bird briar; briar rose; buckieberries; canker; canker flower; canker rose; cankerberry; choop tree; common brier; dog briar; dog brier; hep briar; hep rose; hep tree; wild rose; cat whin

A vigorous arching deciduous shrub about 3m in height, with strong prickly stems bearing mid-green foliage and fragrant, single, pale pink or white flowers 5cm across, with prominent yellow stamens, produced either solitary or in small clusters, in early summer, followed by ovoid red fruits

Scientific classification

Species: dog rose (Rosa canina)
Genus: Rosa
Family: Rosaceae

Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Toxicity: Roses · Shrubs
Plant type: 2.5-4 metres
Height: 1.5-2.5 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Information to be completed
Habit: Spring · Summer · Autumn
Season of interest: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

dog rose pictures

Distribution of dog rose

Distribution map

Europe, Northern Africa, Southwestern Asia

Information to be completed

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

Quick identification of dog rose

Information to be completed

dog rose care guide

Deep root watering, allow slight surface drying before watering again
Watering: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Deep root watering, allow slight surface drying before watering again

Fertilizing

Rose fertilizer every two to four weeks from spring through late summer

Pruning

Keep single-flowering shrub roses lightly pruned, removing dead, diseased, crossing and weak growth. Thin a few old unproductive stems if crowded. Prune in late summer after flowering.

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in early to mid spring, hardwood cuttings in late summer to autumn or by chip budding in summer; propagate by seed; species roses can be propagated by seed but need stratification and germination may take two seasons

Growing

'Dog Rose', a wild rose native to Britain with abundant orange-red hips in autumn. Grow in full sun or part shade in moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. For best flowering apply a balanced fertiliser and mulch in late winter or early spring. Tolerant of poor soil and north-facing locations. See rose cultivation for further advice

More growing and care information →

Common pests and diseases

Diseases

May be susceptible to rose black spot, rose rust, replant disease, rose dieback, and rose powdery mildew and sometimes honey fungus. May also be susceptible to disorder rose blindness

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, rose leafhopper, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, caterpillars, large rose sawfly, rose slugworm sawfly and rose leaf-rolling sawfly. Deer and rabbits can cause damage

Explore the plant health library →