About
Rosa longicuspis is a very vigorous, rampant rose to 6�10 m with strong, reddish stems crowded with sharply hooked thorns and almost evergreen, large, leathery, dark-green leaves tinted red when young. Huge, cascading panicles of single, white blooms with prominent yellow stamens are produced in midsummer, followed by small, oval, orange-red hips. A spectacular, once-flowering rambler for growing into large trees.
About the genus
Rosa, the roses, are deciduous or semi-evergreen shrubs and scrambling climbers with usually thorny stems bearing pinnate leaves and solitary or clustered, five-petalled flowers in a vast range of colours and forms in summer, often followed by showy red, orange or purple hips. Indispensable garden plants for a sunny, well-drained position.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing, North-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeRoses
HabitClimbing, Spreading branched
FoliageSemi evergreen, Evergreen
Height8-12 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
Native toHimalaya, W China
ToxicityFruit are ornamental - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Fruit are ornamental - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Care notes
CultivationGrow in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Mulch with well-rotted organic matter in late winter or early spring, and for best flowering apply a general rose or shrub fertiliser in early spring and again in early summer. Tolerant of north-facing aspects, poor soils and good for growing up into large trees. See rose cultivation
PruningPruning group 18 (rambler roses) - see our video How to prune rambling roses. Don't prune after flowering if fruits (hips) are required
PropagationFor home use, propagate by hardwood cuttings in autumn, softwood cuttings (under glass) in spring or summer or by chip budding in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, rose leafhopper, glasshouse red spider mite, scale insects, caterpillars, large rose sawfly, rose slugworm sawfly and rose leaf-rolling sawfly. Deer and rabbits can cause damage
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to rose black spot, rose rust, replant disease, rose dieback, and rose powdery mildew. May also be susceptible to disorders rose blindness and flower balling and sometimes honey fungus