The Japanese rose originates from East Asia and was brought to Europe in the mid-1800s, where it quickly spread due to its ability to thrive in the local climate and resistance to diseases. It soon became a popular plant in parks and gardens.
Characteristics of he Japanese rose
Known by various names, including dog rose and its mostly dark pink, sometimes white flowers resemble wild roses. The mature plant is 1-2 meters tall, heavily thorny, and a deciduous ornamental and medicinal plant. It is winter-hardy and can withstand both spring and winter frosts as well as dry conditions. Its bright green wrinkled leaves turn yellow in autumn.
The large, pleasantly fragrant flowers bloom from May to late summer, even until the onset of frost. Its fruit is large, red, or orange-yellow, reaching sizes of 2-3 cm and being fleshy. An interesting feature is that the flowers and berries are visible at the same time. The berries can be consumed fresh or dried, although they have a slightly more acidic taste compared to wild roses. They contain a high amount of vitamin C.
Care of the Japanese rose
It does not have high soil requirements, but it cannot tolerate chalky soil as it is sensitive to it. It prefers slightly acidic soil. It is not demanding in terms of soil compactness. It enjoys warm, sunny, and sheltered locations since it has high light requirements, and its fruit will be of the best quality there. It does not flower in dark places; its leaves fall off, and the plant perishes. It is resistant to diseases, but regular watering is necessary for this. When kept in dry conditions, its initial rapid growth slows down, it thins out over 1-2 years, ages, and eventually dies.
Potted Japanese rose
Japanese roses can be kept in pots as well. They do not require a large pot because they tend to grow their roots towards the edges of the pot, leaving the center empty. However, this restricts the partial development of the roots. Regular watering is necessary, but care should be taken not to let water accumulate at the bottom of the pot as it can lead to disease. Keep the potted rose in a warm, sunny location.
Pruning the Wild rose
In general, it does not require pruning, but if you want it to produce beautiful flowers, occasional pruning can be beneficial. Early spring is the most suitable time for pruning, and during this time, you can shape it into a bush. You can also rejuvenate the older stems by cutting back all the shoots to about 10 cm above the ground. It requires regular watering during dry periods, otherwise, it will age prematurely.
Propagation of the Dog rose
These rose can be propagated in two ways:
- Through cuttings
For this method, a strong shoot that has developed in the current year and is no longer than 10 cm is needed. This cutting should be inserted about 2-3 cm deep into loose potting soil, and we can wait for it to develop roots. - Through root suckers
In this method, the suckers on the shoot tips need to be planted, and once they have developed roots, they should be separated from the parent plant.
Japanese rose prices
This flowering plant is available in almost every nursery, and the prices of Japanese roses are not considered significantly different compared to other rose varieties.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_canina
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