About
Rosa villosa, the apple rose, is a vigorous species shrub rose to about 1.8 m with lightly aromatic, grey-green, downy leaves. Aromatic, single, clear-pink blooms to 5 cm across open from carmine buds in summer in one flush, followed in early autumn by large, apple-shaped, bristly, crimson hips. A beautiful and ornamental species rose with spectacular hips for a sunny, well-drained garden.
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
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeRoses
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens
FragranceFlower, Foliage
ToxicityWear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun or part shade and moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. For best flowering apply a balanced fertiliser and mulch in late winter or early spring and a balanced fertiliser again in early summer. Good for a woodland or wild garden. See rose cultivation for further advice
PruningSee pruning group 20 (shrub roses), do not deadhead flowers if fruits (hips) are required
PropagationPropagate by softwood cuttings in early to mid spring, hardwood cuttings in late summer to autumn 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 and sometimes honey fungus. May also be susceptible to disorders rose blindness and flower balling