Rosa villosa

Rosa villosa, the apple rose, is a species of rose. It was described in 1753.

Description

A shrub. It grows 1.8 m tall and spreads 1.2 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The branches are stiff and straight. There are scattered thorns. The leaves are downy and grey-green. The flowers are single and pink. The fruit are large, round, red hips. They have bristles.

Edible Uses

The fruit has a pleasant acid pulp and can be eaten raw or cooked, and works well in preserves and jams. It is about 30mm in diameter, though only a thin layer of flesh surrounds the many seeds. It is very rich in vitamin C, with 1303mg per 100g of fresh fruit. Care should be taken when eating it. The seeds are a good source of vitamin E; they can be ground into a powder and blended with flour or added to other foods as a supplement — always remove the seed hairs first. The leaves can be used as a tea substitute, and a pleasant, fruity-flavoured tea is also made from the dried fruit.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also processed into preserves, wines, puddings, sauces, sweetmeats and drinks. The leaves are used as a substitute for tea.

Medicinal Uses

The fruit of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins A, C, and E, along with flavonoids and other bio-active compounds. It also provides a fairly good supply 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 tumour 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 temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 5-7.

Where It Grows

Albania, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Middle East, Netherlands, North America, Poland, Romania, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Türkiye, USA, Yugoslavia,

Cultivation

Succeeds in most well-drained 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. Formerly cultivated for its edible fruit which, from selected plants, can be 4cm wide. There are some named varieties, 'Wolley Dod' has large fruits with a good flavour. The flowers are semi-double, heavily scented and sweetly fragrant. The foliage has an aroma like ripe apples. Plants often produce suckers. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Rose seed frequently takes two years to germinate, as it may require a warm period following a cold spell to mature the embryo and break down the seedcoat. One approach to reduce this time is to scarify the seed, then place it in damp peat at 27–32°c for 2–3 weeks to allow imbibition, followed by 4 months at 3°c, after which germination should begin. 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 fresh into a cold frame sometimes germinates in spring but may take 18 months. Stored seed can be sown as early in the year as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c; it may still take 2 years to germinate. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle, and plant out in summer if they exceed 25cm, or overwinter in a cold frame and plant out in late spring. Half-ripe cuttings with a heel taken in July in a shaded frame and overwintered before planting out give a high success rate. Pencil-thick cuttings of mature current-season wood, 20–25cm long, taken in early autumn and placed in a sheltered spot outdoors or in a cold frame, typically take 12 months to establish but succeed at a high rate. Suckers can be divided during dormancy and planted directly into permanent positions. Layering also works but takes 12 months.

Other Uses

Suitable for use as a hedge.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Notes

There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties. Fruit are rich in Vitamin C.

Synonyms

References (14)

• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1217 (As Rosa pomifera)
• De Rosa 16. 1762 (As Rosa pomifera)
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 208
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 573
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 280

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