# White Rose (*Rosa ×alba L.*)

The White Rose is a lovely flower that represents purity and innocence. Its soft petals are beautiful and fragrant.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens and parks
- **Also known as:** Bourbon Rose, Cabbage Rose

![White Rose](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425864/objects/4902.jpg)

## Appearance

The White Rose has pristine white, often semi-double to double petals arranged in a classic, cup-shaped form. Its sturdy stems are typically green and armed with sharp thorns, providing a clear visual defense against herbivores. The foliage is a dark, glossy green.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Rosa

## Interesting facts

- Its strong perfume can attract nocturnal moths for nighttime pollination too!
- Some ancient white roses have been known to live for hundreds of years!
- The petals of white roses are sometimes used to make delicious jams and teas!
- White roses are often given to symbolize new beginnings and remembrance.

## Special abilities

- **Thorny Guardian:** White Roses have sharp thorns that help deter animals from eating their leaves and flowers, keeping them safe.
- **Fragrant Beacon:** White Roses release a sweet, strong scent that helps attract pollinators like bees and moths from far away.
- **Fruitful Legacy:** White Roses produce rose hips, which are fruits that protect their seeds and provide food for birds.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 90-250 cm
- **Spread:** 60-180 cm
- **Flower Size:** 6-12 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collecting nectar and pollen
- **Eats:** rose aphid (*Macrosiphum rosae*) — sucking sap from leaves and stems
- **Eats:** seven-spotted ladybug (*Coccinella septempunctata*) — preys on aphids affecting the rose

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify White Rose?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is White Rose?

90-250 cm

### How wide does White Rose spread?

60-180 cm

### How big are the flowers on White Rose?

6-12 cm

### When does White Rose bloom?

Late spring to summer

### Is White Rose edible?

Yes

### Is White Rose toxic?

None

### What is White Rose's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [White Rose: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-rose)