ExplorePlants

Sweet-brier

Rosa rubiginosa

Sweet-brier is a lovely shrub with fragrant pink flowers and soft, green leaves. It grows wild in many places and is great for attracting butterflies and bees!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Sweet-brier is a deciduous shrub with arching stems covered in sharp, hooked thorns. It has finely serrated, deep green leaves with reddish glands that release a distinctive apple scent. Its delicate, five-petaled flowers are pale pink to white.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusRosa
Sweet-brier
deciduous trait badgeornamental trait badgeshrub trait badgefragrant_flower trait badge
Sweet-brier

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

In some places, Sweet-brier is also known by the beautiful, old-fashioned name 'Eglantine rose'!

Its leaves smell exactly like green apples, especially after a fresh rain shower!

Sweet-brier's rose hips contain way more vitamin C than an orange, making them super healthy!

This tough plant can grow almost anywhere, even in poor soil where other plants struggle.

Special abilities

Ability

Scented Shield

Sweet-brier has tiny glands on its leaves that release a fresh apple scent, possibly deterring some hungry plant-eaters.

Ability

Hooked Defender

Sweet-brier has strong, hooked thorns along its stems that help it climb over other plants and protect against browsers.

Ability

Vitamin Treasure

Sweet-brier produces bright red, vitamin-rich rose hips that provide essential food for birds in winter.

Measurements & details

Height
100-300 cm
Spread
100-200 cm
Flower Size
2-3 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to mid-summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers for nectar and pollen

eats

Eurasian blackbird

Turdus merula

Consumes rose hips, dispersing seeds

eaten by

Roe deer

Capreolus capreolus

Browses on young shoots and leaves

parasitizes

Bedeguar gall wasp

Diplolepis rosae

Lays eggs in buds, causing galls

Traits

Also known as

EglantineSweet Briar

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Be careful of the thorns when you get close to the plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Sweet-brier?

100-300 cm

How wide does Sweet-brier spread?

100-200 cm

How big are the flowers on Sweet-brier?

2-3 cm

When does Sweet-brier bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

Is Sweet-brier edible?

Yes

Is Sweet-brier toxic?

None

What is Sweet-brier's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Sweet-brier pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Recent snaps will appear here as new observations are added.

More Plants