- Rosa rugosa Thunb. ex Murray - Japanese Rose - Rosaceae
© Fiona McCrory
© Paul Hackney
© Paul Hackney
(Map updated: March 2008)
© Paul Hackney
A native of Japan introduced for garden purposes which has escaped onto sand dunes around the coast and is also found occasionally in waste ground inland. It is a nuisance in its sand dune habitat, forming dense thickets which obliterate native vegetation.
It is easily recognised by its crinkly (rugose) leaves, the attractive sweetly-scented deep purple-pink or white flowers and the very large red spheroidal hips, looking almost like small tomatoes, much the largest hip of any wild rose.
All names: Rosa rugosa Thunb. ex Murray
NBN Atlas mapping: Species account : NBN Atlas UK Species Observations database
iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database