Wild Roses

  Golden Chersonese

    Roses have been in existence for at least 35 million years and, although they have only been cultivated for about the last 2,700 of those years, their development from untamed shrubs to the plants we know is a long and complicated story beginning with the wild species.  Rose species are divided into main group: Hulhemia, Hesperhodos, Platyrhodon and Eurosa.  The first 3 groups include only 5 species; the rest belong to the Eurosa group, which is itself divided into 10 sections.  Plants form almost all those groups and sections have been used for breeding, but relatively few have had a major influence.  Most garden roses are hybrids, but some species are cultivated.  

    Species roses are often quite different form modern hybrids, tending to be rather untidy, scrambling bushes, whole thorns spines or prickles.  The flowers are generally rather small, very simple and only appear for a short time in late spring.  Yet the species are usually tough and adaptable, able to shrug off pests and diseases, and many produce a marvelous display of rose hips from late summer.

Home