Shrubs🌿 Native to the NetherlandsVery hardy — tolerates frost down to -25°C

Harsh-leaf Rose

Rosa tomentosa

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Harsh-leaf Rose (Rosa tomentosa) is an originally native, deciduous wild rose featuring arching branches and straight to slightly curved prickles. The leaves typically consist of seven leaflets that are hairy on both sides, with the undersides appearing distinctly grey and felted. The glands on the leaves and flower stalks can release a distinct resinous scent when touched. In June and July, light pink to sometimes white, single flowers emerge with easily accessible stamens. These are followed by orange-red to fire-red hips, often borne on relatively long, glandular stalks. Harsh-leaf Rose naturally grows in hedges, thickets, open deciduous forests, forest edges, along hollow ways, railway embankments, limestone slopes, and dune scrub. This species is suitable for native mixed hedges, bird-friendly thickets, landscape plantings, and sunny to semi-shaded natural gardens.

Year calendar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
🌸Blooms
🐝Provides nectar
🍓Bears fruit
🍂Has autumn colour

Pruning period

✂️Best pruning period: Feb–Mar

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
✂️ Pruning period

Best pruning period

Harsh-leaf Rose requires little pruning. In late winter, only remove dead, damaged, or heavily crossing branches. Old, poorly flowering branches can be removed at ground level to stimulate new growth. Do not deadhead if you wish to retain the hips, and always check for nesting birds before pruning.

Botanical profile

Site & soil

Sun, Half shade

Soil type: Sand, Loam, Clay, Humus-rich

Moisture need: Dry, Moderately moist, Moist

pH: Neutral (6.5–7.5), Chalky (>7.5), Slightly acidic (5.5–6.5)

Nutrient richness: Moderately nutrient-rich, Nutrient-poor

Humus content: Humus-poor, Humus-rich, Moderately humus-rich

Water drainage: Strongly draining, Moisture-retentive, Well draining

Appearance & season

Mature height: 100-300cm

Bloom: Jun-Jul

Autumn colour: No notable autumn color. The leaves may turn dull yellow-green to yellowish-brown before falling. The orange-red to fire-red hips provide more color in autumn than the foliage.

Properties

Salt sensitive: Yes

Edible: The flesh of the ripe orange-red hips is edible and has a fresh-tart, slightly astringent, and somewhat mealy taste. It can be processed into syrup, jam, jelly, sauce, or tea. Always remove the seeds and fine hairs from the inside, as these can irritate the mouth, skin, and digestive tract.

Scent: The light pink to white flowers have a light, pleasant rose scent. Additionally, the glands on the hairy leaves, flower stalks, and hip stalks can release a spicy, resinous fragrance when touched or in warm weather.

Ecological value

Harsh-leaf Rose is a valuable host plant for caterpillars of various moth and micro-moth species that use roses as a food source. Aphids, gall wasps, sawflies, beetles, and other insects also utilize the leaves, buds, flowers, and young twigs. These insects, in turn, provide food for birds and other insectivores. The open flowers provide easily accessible pollen and small amounts of nectar for bees, bumblebees, hoverflies, beetles, and other flower visitors. The ripe hips are eaten by birds and small mammals. The dense, prickly branches offer safe nesting sites and shelter. Additionally, fallen leaves, older branches, and the soil beneath the shrub provide habitat for small invertebrates, fungi, and soil-dwelling organisms.

Food web & Biodiversity

🐛 Caterpillars & mothsUseful

🐝 Bees & bumblebeesVery useful

🪰 HoverfliesUseful

🦋 ButterfliesVery useful

🪲 Beetles & insectsUseful

🐦 BirdsVery useful

🐿️ MammalsUseful

🐞 Other animalsUseful

Harsh-leaf Rose features open flowers rich in pollen for wild bees, hoverflies, beetles, and other insects, though nectar supplies are limited. The leaves and flower buds are utilized by various caterpillars and other specialized rose-feeding insects. The hips are consumed by birds and small mammals. Furthermore, the dense, prickly branches provide safe nesting sites and cover for birds, hedgehogs, and small invertebrates.

Distribution in the Netherlands

Source: NDFF Distribution Atlas / FLORON — period 2020–2026

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