Sweet briar flower. Getty Images

Rosa rubiginosa

Sweet briar

  • Botanical name: Rosa rubiginosa
  • Common name: Sweet briar
  • Family: Rosaceae
  • Plant Type: Shrub, Deciduous
Flower colour:

Pink

Foliage colour:

Green

Sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa) is a shrub rose with prickly stems, fragrant foliage, and single, pink flowers, followed by red hips. The name sweet briar means “fragrant thorn”. It’s also known as the Eglantine rose.

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Similar to, and often mistaken for dog rose (Rosa canina), sweet briar has sweet, almost apple-scented foliage, particularly after rain. Native to the UK, it’s a common hedgerow plant. However, it’s naturalised in North America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, where it’s considered an invasive plant and is banned from sale.

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Growing sweet briar

Sweet briar’s dense, prickly habit makes it perfect for using against a boundary, and it’s also suitable for using as part of a mixed wildlife hedge. It can grow in a variety of locations, including coastal regions. Plant in moist but well-drained soil.

Advice on buying sweet briar

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  • Sweet briar is available to buy as bareroot hedging plants from November to March, or as potted plants throughout the year
  • Choose hedging whips if planting sweet briar as a hedge, or buy pot-growing plants if growing as a shrub
  • Always check plants for signs of disease or damage before planting

Where to buy sweet briar

How to grow Rosa rubiginosa

  • Plant size

    2.5m height

    2.5m spread

Rosa rubiginosa and wildlife

Rosa rubiginosa is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, birds, butterflies​/​moths and other pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant, has nectar/pollen rich flowers, provides shelter and habitat, has seeds for birds and makes a good wildlife hedge.

Attractive to Bees

Attractive to Beneficial insects

Attractive to Birds

Attractive to Butterflies​/​Moths

Attractive to Other pollinators

Is Rosa rubiginosa poisonous?

Rosa rubiginosa has no toxic effects reported.

No reported toxicity to:

No reported toxicity to Birds

No reported toxicity to Cats

No reported toxicity to Dogs

No reported toxicity to Horses

No reported toxicity to Livestock

No reported toxicity to People