This species is widely distributed in the northern temperate zone and has a great morphological variation. The varieties described by various authors are difficult to distinguish, owing to the presence of intermediate forms, and are all reduced to synonymy for the time being in this account[].

Common Name: Prickly Rose

General Information

Rosa acicularis is a prickly, deciduous shrub with erect, stout stems that usually grow from 100 - 240cm tall. The plant suckers freely and can form dense thickets[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes cultivated for its vitamin C rich fruits (especially the var. nipponensis (Crep.) Koehne)[], and is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, especially in Siberia, where it is often used to form a hedge[].

Known Hazards

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.

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Northern Eurasia - Sweden and Russia eastwards through Siberia and central Asia to the Russian Far East, Japan and Korea; Northern N. America - Alaska

Habitat

Timberlines, larch-birch and pine forests, stony glades, grassy meadows, watersheds; at elevations from 1,500 - 2,800 metres[]. Betula forests, scrub, sunny slopes, roadsides; at elevations from 400 - 1,800 metres[]

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Rosa acicularis is a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to around -40°c when fully dormant[].
Most Rosa species require a sunny position if they are to flourish and flower well. They prefer a circumneutral pH, succeeding in a range of soil texturess so long as they are moist but well-drained[, ]. Prefers a slightly acid soil[].
The flowers are fragrant[].
Produces its fruit abundantly in Britain[].
This plant is the floral emblem of Alberta[].
Rose species will often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. It can also be used in syrups and purees or be dried and used in teas and soups[]. The fruit contains about 2 - 3% (dry weight) vitamin C[], and up to as much as 7% in some varieties[]. The ripe fruit is fleshy with a rich sweet flavour[, ], the taste is best after the fruit has been frosted[]. The orange-red to bright red or blue-purple, globose to ellipsoid or urceolate fruit can be 10 - 23mm × 9 - 11mm[]. There is only a thin layer of flesh surrounding the many seeds[].
Some care has to be taken when eating this fruit, see the notes above on known hazards.

A tea is made from the leaves, it is rich in vitamin C[, , ].

Young shoots - peeled and eaten in spring[, , ].

Petals - raw. Remove the bitter white base[].

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

Medicinal

The plant is rich in tannins and is used as an astringent[].

A decoction of the root is used as a cough remedy[].
An infusion of the roots is used as a wash for sore eyes[].

An infusion of the leaves and bark has been used as eye drops in the treatment of snow blindness[].

A decoction of the stems and branches has been used as a blood tonic and as a treatment for stomach complaints, colds and fevers[].

A poultice of the chewed leaves has been used to alleviate the pain of bee stings[].

The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially 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[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown as an informal hedge, its prickly stems helping to prevent unwelcome visitors[].
Rose species in general grow well with alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins[, ]. Garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insect predation[, ]. Roses often grow badly with boxwood[].

Other Uses

An orange dye is obtained from the boiled fruit[].

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[]. 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[]. 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[]. 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[]. It may take 2 years to germinate[]. 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[]. High percentage[].
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[, ]. The cuttings can take 12 months to establish but a high percentage of them normally succeed[].
Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.
Layering. Takes 12 months[].