Sweetbriar Rose

Rosa rubiginosa

Rosaceae · broadleaf · native

Sweetbriar rose (eglantine) is a dense, heavily prickled shrub reaching 8 feet, native to Europe, North Africa, and western Asia but widely naturalized in western North America. The foliage is highly aromatic, emitting a sweet green-apple or cider scent (especially pungent after rain or when bruised); this distinctive fragrance makes identification certain.

Sweetbriar rose is extremely hardy and drought tolerant once established, growing vigorously in full sun on well-drained soils. The plant is thorny and may escape cultivation in disturbed sites; monitor for naturalization. The hips are edible and high in vitamin C, making them suitable for tea, jams, and syrup.

Quick Facts

Height

8 ft

Spread

8 ft

Growth Rate

Moderate

Light

Full Sun

Soil

Adaptable

Water

Moderate

Hardiness

Zone Zones 4a–8b

Bloom Time

May to June

Origin

Pacific Northwest native

Phenological Calendar

Stage	Typical Window	What to Look For
Bud break BBCH 07	Feb 15-Mar 15	Buds swelling and beginning to open; first green tissue visible
Leaf emergence BBCH 11	Mar 1-Apr 1	First leaves fully unfurled on new growth
Bloom start BBCH 61	Jun 1-Jun 30	First open flowers visible; flowers red
Bloom end / petal fall BBCH 69	Jun 15-Jul 15	Last petals falling; flower structures fading
Fruit/seed development BBCH 71	Jun 1-Aug 31	Fruit or seed structures forming; fruit color: purple
Fruit/seed maturity BBCH 85	Sep 1-Nov 30	Fruit fully colored and ripened; seed dispersal may begin
Fall color / leaf senescence BBCH 93	Oct 1-Nov 15	Leaves changing color; fall display beginning
Dormancy BBCH 97	Nov 15-Feb 28	Leafless; no active growth; dormant buds set

Diseases (25)

Various plant viruses (Raspberry bushy dwarf virus, Straw... Virus

Thekopsora minima and Naohidemyces vaccinii Rust

Podosphaera aphanis var. aphanis Powdery Mildew

Peronospora sparsa Downy Mildew

Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall

Coniothyrium wernsdorffiae and Paraconiothyrium fuckelii Common canker

Non-pathogenic (physiological — cold damage during flower... Bullhead

Brand canker

Botrytis cinerea Botrytis Bud and Twig Blight

Diplocarpon rosae Black Spot

Chlaropsis thielavioides Black Mold

Armillaria ostoyae Armillaria Root Rot

Bacterial Cane Blight

Pseudomonas syringae Bacterial Leaf Spot and Blast

Two fungi Brand and Common Canker

Cryptosporella umbrina (anamorph: Diaporthe umbrina) Brown Canker

Chemical Injury

Several fungal Leaf Spots, Miscellaneous

Non-pathogenic (iron deficiency) Lime-induced Chlorosis

Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot

Complex of Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia s... Replant Disease

Several viruses Rose Mosaic

Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt

Various plant viruses (Blueberry mosaic virus, Blueberry ... Virus Diseases

Cold and Winter Injury

Quick Facts

Phenological Calendar

Diseases (25)

Pests (25)