Rosa chinensis

Rosa chinensis (Chinese: 月季; pinyin: yuèjì), known commonly as the China rose, Chinese rose, or Bengal rose, is a member of the genus Rosa native to Southwest China in Guizhou, Hubei, and Sichuan Provinces. The first publication of Rosa chinensis was in 1768 by Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin in Observationum Botanicarum, 3, p. 7 & plate 55.

Description

A shrub. It can be a climber. It grows 6 m high and spreads 2.4 m wide. It keeps its leaves except in areas with very cold winters. Leaves have 3-5 leaflets. Flowers in wild plants are single and white or pink. The fruit are greenish-brown or red hips.

Edible Uses

Young shoot tips, flower buds, and flowers can be parboiled and eaten as potherbs or added to soups. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked; it is about 20mm in diameter but has only a thin layer of flesh surrounding the many seeds — care should be taken when eating it (see known hazards). Young peeled shoots can be eaten raw. The seeds are a good source of vitamin E and can be ground and mixed with flour or added to foods as a supplement; be sure to remove the seed hairs first.

Traditional Uses

The young shoots and leaves, flower buds and opened flowers are parboiled and eaten as potherbs, or in stir-fried dishes or in soups.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The flowers, and to a lesser degree the roots and leaves, are anodyne and emmenagogue, used to treat women's complaints, regulate menstruation, and stimulate blood circulation. A decoction of the leaves, fruits, and roots is used to treat arthritis, boils, and coughs. The fruit is applied externally to sprains, ulcers, and wounds. The flower buds are used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, poor circulation, stomach pains, and swellings. The fruit is a very rich source of vitamins A, C, and E, flavonoids, and other bio-active compounds, and is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated for its potential to reduce the incidence of cancer and to halt or reverse cancer growth.

Known Hazards

There is a layer of hairs around the seeds just beneath the flesh of the fruit. These hairs can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract if ingested.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It is native to China. It has become naturalised in the Adelaide Hills. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Dominican Republic, Europe, Haiti, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Laos, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Myanmar, Nepal, North America, Pacific, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Tasmania, USA, Vietnam, West Indies,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, preferring a circumneutral soil and a sunny position. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Dislikes water-logged soils. Grows well with alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins. Garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insect predation. Grows badly with boxwood. This species is one of the parents of all the modern large, repeat-flowering roses grown in the world today. It is occasionally cultivated for speciality restaurants, there is at least one named variety. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value. The flowers are richly scented. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Rose seed often takes two years to germinate, as it may need a warm period following a cold one to mature the embryo and soften the seedcoat. To speed this up, scarify the seed and place it in damp peat at 27–32°c for 2–3 weeks until imbibed, then hold at 3°c for four months, by which time germination should begin. Alternatively, seed harvested green — fully developed but not yet dried on the plant — and sown immediately may germinate in late winter, though this method had not been fully tested as of 1988. Seed sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame sometimes germinates in spring, but may take 18 months. Stored seed should be sown as early as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c; germination may still take 2 years. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle. Plant out in summer if over 25cm tall; otherwise overwinter in a cold frame and plant out in late spring. Half-ripe cuttings with a heel taken in July in a shaded frame, overwintered and planted out in late spring, give a high success rate. Hardwood cuttings of pencil-thick shoots, 20–25cm long, taken in early autumn and planted in a sheltered spot outdoors or in a cold frame, take up to 12 months to establish but normally succeed at a high rate. Suckers can be divided and replanted directly in their permanent positions during the dormant season. Layering takes 12 months.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

Used as medicine in Indonesia. There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Bunga roos, Huong, Kanta gulab, Mawar cina, Yue ji hua

References (18)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 528
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 888
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1214
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 206
• Flora of China @ efloras.org Volume 9

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