Rosa virginiana
Virginia Rose

Uses

Toxic parts

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.

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked^[1]. The fruit is up to 15mm in diameter^[2], but there is only a thin layer of flesh surrounding the many seeds[K]. Some care has to be taken when eating this fruit, see the notes above on known hazards.

The buds are eaten by native Indians in N. America^[3]^[1]^[4]. No further details are given, does this refer to the leaf or flower buds?

The seed is a good source of vitamin E, it can be ground into a powder and mixed with flour or added to other foods as a supplement^[5]^[4]. Be sure to remove the seed hairs^[5].

Fruit

Unknown use

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

Can be grown as a hedge, succeeding in windy positions^[6]^[7]. The suckering form of this species can be used to fix sand dunes^[7]. It also makes a good ground cover^[8].

There are no material uses listed for Rosa virginiana.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

A decoction of the roots has been used as a bath and to treat worms in children^[9]. An infusion of the roots has been drunk and used as a wash in treating bleeding cuts on the feet^[9].

An infusion of the roots has been used as a wash to treat sore eyes^[9].

The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers^[10].

Unknown part

Anthelmintic

Cancer

Haemostatic

Ophthalmic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Hedge

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed. Rose seed often takes two years to germinate. This is because it may need a warm spell of weather after a cold spell in order to mature the embryo and reduce the seedcoat^[11]. One possible way to reduce this time is to scarify the seed and then place it for 2 - 3 weeks in damp peat at a temperature of 27 - 32°c (by which time the seed should have imbibed). It is then kept at 3°c for the next 4 months by which time it should be starting to germinate^[11]. Alternatively, it is possible that seed harvested 'green' (when it is fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and sown immediately will germinate in the late winter. This method has not as yet(1988) been fully tested^[11]. Seed sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame sometimes germinates in spring though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be sown as early in the year as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c^[2]. It may take 2 years to germinate^[2]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer if the plants are more than 25cm tall, otherwise grow on in a cold frame for the winter and plant out in late spring.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July in a shaded frame. Overwinter the plants in the frame and plant out in late spring^[12]. High percentage^[12]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth. Select pencil thick shoots in early autumn that are about 20 - 25cm long and plant them in a sheltered position outdoors or in a cold frame^[12]^[2]. The cuttings can take 12 months to establish but a high percentage of them normally succeed^[12]. Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.

Layering. Takes 12 months^[7].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Rosa virginiana. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

Succeeds in most soils, preferring one on the dryish side^[7]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a circumneutral soil and a sunny position^[2]. Dislikes water-logged soils. Does well in a windy position^[7].

Grows well with alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins^[13]^[14]. Garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insect predation^[13]^[14]. Grows badly with boxwood^[13]. The flowers are fragrant^[8]. The form in cultivation in Britain is very invasive, forming thickets with its suckers, whilst the wild form does not produce suckers^[7]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus^[11].

Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus^[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Rosa virginiana. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Rosa virginiana.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4^2.5^2.6^2.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
? ^3.0^3.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)
? ^6.0^6.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5^7.6^7.7 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
? ^8.0^8.1^8.2 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
? ^10.0^10.1 Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 (1994-00-00)
? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)
? ^12.0^12.1^12.2^12.3 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)
? ^13.0^13.1^13.2 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)
? ^14.0^14.1 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)
? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "PFAFimport-17" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

[PFAFimport-177-1] ? ^1.0^1.1^1.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)

[PFAFimport-200-2] ? ^2.0^2.1^2.2^2.3^2.4^2.5^2.6^2.7 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

[PFAFimport-161-3] ? ^3.0^3.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()

[PFAFimport-183-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)

[PFAFimport-102-5] ? ^5.0^5.1^5.2 Kavasch. B. Native Harvests. Vintage Books ISBN 0-394-72811-4 (1979-00-00)

[PFAFimport-1-6] ? ^6.0^6.1 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

[PFAFimport-11-7] ? ^7.0^7.1^7.2^7.3^7.4^7.5^7.6^7.7 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

[PFAFimport-245-8] ? ^8.0^8.1^8.2 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)

[PFAFimport-257-9] ? ^9.0^9.1^9.2^9.3 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)

[PFAFimport-214-10] ? ^10.0^10.1 Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 (1994-00-00)

[PFAFimport-80-11] ? ^11.0^11.1^11.2^11.3 McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books ISBN 0-901361-21-6 (1985-00-00)

[PFAFimport-78-12] ? ^12.0^12.1^12.2^12.3 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co (1948-00-00)

[PFAFimport-18-13] ? ^13.0^13.1^13.2 Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins (1979-00-00)

[PFAFimport-20-14] ? ^14.0^14.1 Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. ISBN 0-88266-064-0 (1978-00-00)

[PFAFimport-43-15] ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)

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Article is incomplete	Yes +
Article requires citations	No +
Article requires cleanup	Yes +
Belongs to family	Rosaceae +
Belongs to genus	Rosa +
Functions as	Ground cover +, Hedge + and Earth stabiliser +
Has common name	Virginia Rose +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Fruit + and Leaves +
Has edible use	Unknown use +
Has environmental tolerance	High wind +
Has fertility type	Bee +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has growth rate	Moderate +
Has hardiness zone	3 +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has mature height	1.5 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Anthelmintic +, Cancer +, Haemostatic + and Ophthalmic +
Has search name	rosa virginiana + and x +
Has shade tolerance	Light shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teclayture preference	Clay +
Has soil teheavy clayture preference	Heavy clay +
Has soil teloamyture preference	Loamy +
Has soil tesandyture preference	Sandy +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomy name	Rosa virginiana +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Deciduous +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	No +
Tolerates wind	Yes +
Uses mature size measurement unit	Meters +