Where Roses Grow Wild
Botanists claim that the rose is the oldest species in the plant kingdom and is known to have existed even prior to the evolution of mankind. The rose we are talking about here is not the manmade or the naturally created hybrid, but the really wild rose (botanical name: Species rose) that grows almost everywhere and does not require much maintenance. The true wild rose is not a bush but a tree and it’s stems are 2 to 3 ft. long. It has just 5 petals and is predominantly pink, and sometimes white, red, or yellow. It is not very difficult to distinguish between the authentic wild rose and the many naturally evolved & manmade hybrids that grow in abundance all over the world but many hybrids are still wrongly identified as ‘wild’. Asia (mostly China), North America, Europe, and the Mediterranean, are where roses grow wild in total abandon.
If you want a rose garden and at the same time don’t want to spend too much time caring for it, you should pick up a wild rose plant from your nursery. Wild rose plants are very sturdy and can survive the toughest of winters and are highly resistant to weeds, bugs, and the common diseases that afflict most of the hybrid varieties. Hybrids are those lush roses in vibrant colours with many layers of petals. When compared to the hybrids the wild rose may seem rather tame! But, although the wild rose has just 5 petals (the climbers), and in some cases 7 petals (the ramblers), it blooms in abundance and is quite a beautiful sight. Rugosa Rose and Multiflora Rose are used in landscaping all over North America. The only drawback is that the truly wild rose blooms only once a year during early summer and just for two weeks. Most avid rose lovers prefer the hybrids as they can enjoy the roses throughout the year.
There are at least 100 basic native varieties of the wild rose found all over the world. The most famous ones are Musk Rose (Mediterranean & the Himalayas), Cherokee (or) MaCartney Rose (North America), Chestnut Rose (China), Rugosa rose (Japan), and the Scotch Yellow rose and Dog rose (Britain). Wild roses are a delicacy for many birds (cardinals, thrushes) and animals (deer, bears, squirrels, coyotes), and wild rose hips are much in demand for their anti-oxidant properties, essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins.
It is difficult to grow the plant from seeds, so it would be best for you to buy the plant itself. As it is highly resilient, it does not need any care except for it’s weekly watering and annual pruning of dead wood. Ideally, the plant would benefit with soil that has good drainage as the roots tend to rot in wet soil. Wild roses can survive very cold temperatures, are fragrant, and grow in abundance with very little care.
With practically no effort on your part, the edge of your lawn could very well be where roses grow wild!
Happy Rose Gardening!
Get the #1 Secret to successful rose gardening
