Common Name: China Rose

General Information

Rosa chinensis is an erect, prickly, evergreen shrub that can grow up to 6 metres tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. Highly valued for its floral display, the plant is widely grown as an ornamental in gardens, there are many horticultural forms[].

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

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Range

E. Asia - southern China, Vietnam

Habitat

Not known in a truly wild situation.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	6.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Rosa chinensis is not a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -10 - 15°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[, ].
This species is one of the parents of all the modern large, repeat-flowering roses grown in the world today[]. It is occasionally cultivated for speciality restaurants, there is at least one named variety[]. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[].
The flowers are richly scented[].
Rose species will often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

The young shoot tips, flower buds and flowers are parboiled and eaten as potherbs or added to soups[, , ]. Used as speciality foods in restaurants, where the flowers are used for flavouring honey, confections and sorbets[].

We have no specific information regarding the edibility of this species, but the fruits (more correctly the hips) of all rose species are edible, thogh often rather less than desireable. The best forms develop a sweet, soft flesh that is very rich in vitamins and minerals, though in many species the fruits remain hard and dry. Some care has to be taken when eating the fruit, see the notes above on known hazards.
The red, ovoid or pyriform fruit of this species is around 10 - 20mm in diameter[, ].

Young peeled shoots can be eaten raw[].

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

Medicinal

The flowers, and to a lesser degree the roots and leaves, are anodyne, emmenagogue and used in the treatment of women's complaints[]. They regulate menstruation and stimulate blood circulation[].

The leaves, fruits and roots are decocted and used in the treatment of arthritis, boils, coughs etc[].

The fruit is applied to sprains, ulcers and wounds[].
The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in 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[].

The flower buds are used in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, poor circulation, stomach pains and swellings[].

Agroforestry Uses:

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 extract of the flowers is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations as a skin conditioner[].

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[].