# Wild Rose (*Syzygium pycnanthum Merr. & L.M.Perry*)

Wild Rose is a lovely plant that produces pretty pink or white flowers. It attracts butterflies and bees in the summer!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Fields and gardens
- **Also known as:** Beach Rose, Rosa rugosa, rugosa rose

![Wild Rose](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424722/objects/5039.jpg)

## Appearance

The Wild Rose is a thorny shrub featuring simple, five-petaled flowers, usually pink or white, with a cluster of yellow stamens at their center. Its leaves are typically pinnate, and it produces bright red or orange, berry-like hips in autumn.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Family:** Myrtaceae
- **Genus:** Syzygium

## Interesting facts

- Ancient Romans used rose petals to make confetti for celebrations.
- Rose hips are packed with more Vitamin C than oranges!
- Some wild roses can live for over 50 years, growing very tall!
- The tiny hairs inside rose hips can be super itchy if touched!

## Special abilities

- **Thorn Defense:** Wild Rose has sharp thorns that protect its stems and branches from hungry animals trying to munch on its leaves or flowers.
- **Vitamin C Powerhouse:** Wild Rose can produce nutritious, vitamin-rich rose hips that provide food for wildlife and can be eaten by humans.
- **Scented Attractor:** Wild Rose flowers release a sweet fragrance that helps attract bees and other insects to pollinate them, ensuring new seeds are made.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 100-200 cm
- **Flower Size:** 3-8 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — eats nutrient-rich rose hips in autumn.
- **Eaten by:** [Roe Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/roe-deer) (*Capreolus capreolus*) — browses on young shoots and leaves.
- **Shelter:** Seven-spotted Ladybug (*Coccinella septempunctata*) — hides among its leaves from predators.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [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.
- [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.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

## Collections

- [Grasses](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses)
- [Grasses, Shrubs & Bushes](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/grasses-shrubs-and-bushes)

## 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 Wild Rose?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Wild Rose?

100-300 cm

### How wide does Wild Rose spread?

100-200 cm

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

3-8 cm

### When does Wild Rose bloom?

Late spring to summer

### Is Wild Rose edible?

Yes

### Is Wild Rose toxic?

None

### What is Wild 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: [Wild Rose: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-rose)