391 Species in Genus Rosa

A Rose by Any Other Name: Exploring the Genus Rosa

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been fascinated by the natural world. From the towering redwoods to the smallest wildflowers, each plant has a story to tell. Today, I want to share my admiration for a particular genus that has captivated humans for centuries: the Rosa genus, more commonly known as the rose.

Roses have been cultivated for over 5,000 years, prized for their beauty and fragrance. But beyond their ornamental value, roses are a testament to the diversity and resilience of nature. The genus Rosa encompasses a vast array of species, each with its unique characteristics and adaptations.  

The Wild Roses: Origins and Diversity

The genus Rosa is a member of the Rosaceae family, which includes other beloved plants like apples, cherries, and strawberries. While we often associate roses with cultivated gardens, the genus boasts over 391 wild species, distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. These wild roses are the ancestors of the countless cultivars we see today, and they offer a glimpse into the evolutionary history of this iconic flower.  

From the fragrant Rosa damascena of the Middle East to the hardy Rosa rugosa of East Asia, wild roses exhibit remarkable diversity in their form, color, and fragrance. Some species, like Rosa canina (commonly known as the dog rose), are vigorous climbers, their thorny stems reaching high into the canopy. Others, like Rosa wichuraiana, spread low to the ground, forming dense thickets. This diversity reflects the adaptability of roses to a wide range of environments, from coastal dunes to mountain slopes.  

A Thorny Subject: Classification and Characteristics

Classifying roses can be a thorny subject, as the genus is known for its complex genetics and propensity for hybridization. However, botanists generally divide the genus into four subgenera:

  • Hulthemia: This subgenus includes only two species, Rosa persica and Rosa berberifolia, which are unique for their simple, undivided leaves.  
  • Hesperrhodos: This subgenus comprises two species native to North America, Rosa minutifolia and Rosa stellata, characterized by their small leaves and flowers.  
  • Platyrhodon: This subgenus contains a single species, Rosa roxburghii, native to China and known for its distinctive flaky bark.  
  • Rosa: This is the largest subgenus, containing the majority of rose species, including many of the wild roses mentioned earlier and the ancestors of most modern garden roses.

Despite their diversity, all roses share some common characteristics. They are typically woody shrubs with thorny stems, although some species can grow as climbers or groundcovers. Their leaves are pinnately compound, meaning they are divided into smaller leaflets arranged along a central stem. And of course, they are renowned for their flowers, which come in a spectrum of colors, from the classic red of Rosa gallica to the pure white of Rosa alba.  

Rosa species

  1. Rosa × aberrans Wolley-Dod
  2. Rosa abietina Gren. ex Christ
  3. Rosa abrica Khat. & Koobaz
  4. Rosa abscissa Charit.
  5. Rosa abutalybovii Gadzh.
  6. Rosa abyssinica R.Br. ex Lindl.
  7. Rosa achburensis Chrshan.
  8. Rosa acicularis Lindl. Plant FAQs: Rosa Acicularis – Arctic Rose
  9. Rosa adenophylla Galushko
  10. Rosa agnesii Ker.-Nagy
  11. Rosa agrestis Savi
  12. Rosa alabukensis Tkatsch.
  13. Rosa × alba L.
  14. Rosa alberti Regel
  15. Rosa alexeenkoi Crép. ex Juz.
  16. Rosa × almeriensis Rouy
  17. Rosa × alpestris Rapin ex Reut.
  18. Rosa altidaghestanica Husseinov
  19. Rosa amblyophylla Kult.
  20. Rosa × andegavensis Bastard
  21. Rosa × andrzeiowskii Steven ex Besser
  22. Rosa arabica (Crép. ex Boiss.) Déségl.
  23. Rosa × archipelagica Tchubar
  24. Rosa arensii Juz. & Galushko
  25. Rosa arkansana Porter Plant FAQs: Rosa Arkansana – Prairie Rose
  26. Rosa arvensis Huds.
  27. Rosa × atlantica W.H.Lewis
  28. Rosa × avrayensis Rouy & E.G.Camus
  29. Rosa awarica Husseinov
  30. Rosa baiyushanensis Q.L.Wang
  31. Rosa × bakeri Déségl.
  32. Rosa balakhtensis Stepanov
  33. Rosa balcarica Galushko
  34. Rosa balsamica Besser
  35. Rosa banksiae W.T.Aiton
  36. Rosa banksiopsis Baker
  37. Rosa barbeyi Boulenger
  38. Rosa × barthae Ker.-Nagy
  39. Rosa beauvaisii Cardot
  40. Rosa beggeriana Schrenk ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
  41. Rosa bella Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  42. Rosa bellicosa Nevski
  43. Rosa × belnensis Ozanon
  44. Rosa × bengyana Rouy & L.C.Lamb.
  45. Rosa × bibracteata Bastard ex DC.
  46. Rosa bidentata Charit.
  47. Rosa biebersteiniana Tratt.
  48. Rosa × bigeneris Duffort ex Rouy
  49. Rosa × binaloudensis Vaezi, Arjmandi & Sharghi
  50. Rosa × bishopii Wolley-Dod
  51. Rosa × biturigensis Boreau
  52. Rosa blanda Aiton Plant FAQs: Rosa Blanda – Smooth Rose
  53. Rosa × blinovskyana Kult.
  54. Rosa boissieri Crép.
  55. Rosa × bolanderi Greene
  56. Rosa × borhidiana Ker.-Nagy
  57. Rosa bracteata J.C.Wendl.
  58. Rosa bridgesii Crép. ex Rydb.
  59. Rosa brotherorum Chrshan.
  60. Rosa brunonii Lindl.
  61. Rosa × budensis Borbás
  62. Rosa bugensis Chrshan.
  63. Rosa buschiana Chrshan.
  64. Rosa caesia Sm.
  65. Rosa calantha Tkatsch.
  66. Rosa calcarea Lipsch. & Sumnev.
  67. Rosa californica Cham. & Schltdl.
  68. Rosa calyptopoda Cardot
  69. Rosa × campanulata Ehrh.
  70. Rosa × canadensis W.H.Lewis
  71. Rosa canina L. Plant FAQs: Rosa Canina
  72. Rosa carolina L.
  73. Rosa caryophyllacea Besser
  74. Rosa caudata Baker
  75. Rosa × caviniacensis Ozanon
  76. Rosa Centifolia – Plant FAQs: Rosa Centifolia – Cabbage Rose
  77. Rosa chavinii Rapin ex Reut.
  78. Rosa chengkouensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  79. Rosa chinensis Jacq. Plant FAQs: Rosa Chinensis
  80. Rosa chionistrae H.Lindb.
  81. Rosa × churchillii W.H.Lewis
  82. Rosa cinnamomea L.
  83. Rosa clinophylla Thory
  84. Rosa coalita Charit.
  85. Rosa × consanguinea Gren.
  86. Rosa corymbifera Borkh.
  87. Rosa corymbulosa Rolfe
  88. Rosa × cottetii Lagger & Puget ex Cottet
  89. Rosa coziae Nyár.
  90. Rosa cziragensis Husseinov
  91. Rosa Damascena – Plant FAQs: Rosa Damascena – Damask Rose
  92. Rosa daishanensis T.C.Ku
  93. Rosa darginica Husseinov
  94. Rosa davidii Crép.
  95. Rosa davurica Pall.
  96. Rosa deqenensis T.C.Ku
  97. Rosa derongensis T.C.Ku
  98. Rosa deseglisei Boreau
  99. Rosa diacantha Chrshan.
  100. Rosa diplodonta Dubovik
  101. Rosa dolichocarpa Galushko
  102. Rosa doluchanovii Manden.
  103. Rosa donetzica Dubovik
  104. Rosa × dryadea Ripart ex Déségl.
  105. Rosa dsharkenti Chrshan.
  106. Rosa dubovikiae Mironova
  107. Rosa × dulcissima Lunell
  108. Rosa dumalis Bechst.
  109. Rosa × dumetorum Thuill.
  110. Rosa duplicata T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  111. Rosa ecae Aitch.
  112. Rosa elymaitica Boiss. & Hausskn.
  113. Rosa × engelmannii S.Watson
  114. Rosa ermanica Manden.
  115. Rosa facsarii Ker.-Nagy
  116. Rosa fargesiana Boulenger
  117. Rosa farreri Stapf ex Cox
  118. Rosa × fernaldiorum W.H.Lewis
  119. Rosa × fertilis Kult.
  120. Rosa filipes Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  121. Rosa flavida Charit.
  122. Rosa foetida Herrm. Plant FAQs: Rosa Foetida – Austrian Copper Rose – Persian Yellow
  123. Rosa foliolosa Nutt.
  124. Rosa forrestiana Boulenger
  125. Rosa freitagii Ziel.
  126. Rosa fujisanensis (Makino) Makino
  127. Rosa funingensis L.Luo & Yu Y.Yang
  128. Rosa gadzhievii Chrshan. & Iskend.
  129. Rosa gallica L. Plant FAQs: Rosa Gallica – Gallica Rose
  130. Rosa galushkoi Demurova
  131. Rosa geninae Juz.
  132. Rosa gigantea Collett ex Crép.
  133. Rosa × gilmaniana W.H.Lewis
  134. Rosa giraldii Crép.
  135. Rosa glabrifolia C.A.Mey. ex Rupr.
  136. Rosa glauca Pourr. Plant FAQs: Rosa Glauca – Redleaf Rose – Rosa Rubrifolia
  137. Rosa × glaucoides Wolley-Dod
  138. Rosa glomerata Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  139. Rosa gorenkensis Besser
  140. Rosa graciliflora Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  141. Rosa gracilipes Chrshan.
  142. Rosa × grovesii (Baker) Maskew
  143. Rosa gulczensis Tkatsch.
  144. Rosa gymnocarpa Nutt. Plant FAQs: Rosa Gymnocarpa
  145. Rosa × hainesii W.H.Lewis
  146. Rosa × harmsiana W.H.Lewis
  147. Rosa heckeliana Tratt.
  148. Rosa helenae Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  149. Rosa hemisphaerica Herrm.
  150. Rosa × hemitricha Ripart ex Déségl.
  151. Rosa × henryana W.H.Lewis
  152. Rosa hezhangensis T.L.Xu
  153. Rosa × hibernica Templeton
  154. Rosa hirtissima Lonacz.
  155. Rosa hirtula (Regel) Nakai
  156. Rosa × hodgdonii W.H.Lewis
  157. Rosa hohuanlinparvifolia S.S.Ying
  158. Rosa × housei Erlanson
  159. Rosa × hyogoensis H.Ohba & S.Akiyama
  160. Rosa iberica Steven ex M.Bieb.
  161. Rosa iliensis Chrshan.
  162. Rosa iljinii Chrshan. ex Gadzh.
  163. Rosa × implexa Gren.
  164. Rosa incisa Charit.
  165. Rosa indica L.
  166. Rosa × infesta Kmet ex Heinr.Braun
  167. Rosa inodora Fr.
  168. Rosa × insignis (Déségl. ex Gren.) Déségl. & Ripart
  169. Rosa × involuta Sm.
  170. Rosa irinae Demurova
  171. Rosa irysthonica Manden.
  172. Rosa isaevii Gadzh. & Iskand.
  173. Rosa issyksuensis Tkatsch.
  174. Rosa × iwara Siebold ex Regel
  175. Rosa jaroschenkoi Gadzh. & Iskand.
  176. Rosa juzepczukiana Vassilcz.
  177. Rosa kamelinii Husseinov
  178. Rosa karaalmensis Tkatsch.
  179. Rosa × karakalensis Kult.
  180. Rosa karjaginii Sosn.
  181. Rosa kazarjanii Sosn.
  182. Rosa khasautensis Galushko
  183. Rosa kokanica (Regel) Regel ex Juz.
  184. Rosa kokijrimensis Tkatsch.
  185. Rosa komarovii Sosn.
  186. Rosa × kopetdagensis Meffert
  187. Rosa koreana Kom.
  188. Rosa × kosinsciana Besser
  189. Rosa × kotschyana Boiss.
  190. Rosa kuhitangi Nevski
  191. Rosa kujmanica Golitsin
  192. Rosa kunmingensis T.C.Ku
  193. Rosa kwangtungensis T.T.Yu & H.T.Tsai
  194. Rosa kweichowensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  195. Rosa laevigata Michx. Plant FAQs: Rosa Laevigata – Cherokee Rose
  196. Rosa langyashanica D.C.Zhang & J.Z.Shao
  197. Rosa × lasiodonta Sennen
  198. Rosa lasiosepala F.P.Metcalf
  199. Rosa laxa Retz.
  200. Rosa leschenaultiana (Thory) Wight & Arn.
  201. Rosa lichiangensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  202. Rosa livescens Besser
  203. Rosa × longicolla Ravaud ex Rouy
  204. Rosa longicuspis Bertol.
  205. Rosa longshoushanica L.Q.Zhao & Y.Z.Zhao
  206. Rosa lucidissima H.Lév.
  207. Rosa lucieae Franch. & Rochebr. ex Crép.
  208. Rosa ludingensis T.C.Ku
  209. Rosa machailensis K.Singh, Harsh Singh, Y.P.Sharma & Gairola
  210. Rosa macrophylla Lindl.
  211. Rosa mairei H.Lév.
  212. Rosa × majorugosa Palmén & Hämet-Ahti
  213. Rosa × makinoana H.Ohba
  214. Rosa × malmundariensis Lej.
  215. Rosa mandenovae Gadzh.
  216. Rosa mandonii Déségl.
  217. Rosa manshurica Buzunova
  218. Rosa × margerisonii F.Lees
  219. Rosa marginata Wallr.
  220. Rosa × mariaegraebneriae Asch. & Graebn.
  221. Rosa × matraensis Borbás
  222. Rosa maximowicziana Regel
  223. Rosa × medioccidentis W.H.Lewis
  224. Rosa memoryae W.H.Lewis
  225. Rosa mesatlantica H.Lindb.
  226. Rosa micrantha Borrer ex Sm.
  227. Rosa × mikawamontana Mikanagi & H.Ohba
  228. Rosa minutifolia Engelm.
  229. Rosa mironovae Idrees & J.M.H.Shaw
  230. Rosa × misimensis Nakai
  231. Rosa miyiensis T.C.Ku
  232. Rosa × molletorum Hesl.-Harr.
  233. Rosa × molliformis Wolley-Dod
  234. Rosa mollis Sm.
  235. Rosa × momiyamae H.Ohba
  236. Rosa montana Chaix
  237. Rosa morrisonensis Hayata
  238. Rosa moschata Herrm. Plant FAQs: Rosa Moschata – Musk Rose
  239. Rosa moyesii Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson
  240. Rosa multibracteata Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson
  241. Rosa multiflora Thunb.
  242. Rosa murielae Rehder & E.H.Wilson
  243. Rosa nipponensis Crép.
  244. Rosa nitida Willd.
  245. Rosa × nitidula Besser
  246. Rosa nutkana C.Presl
  247. Rosa obtegens Galushko
  248. Rosa × odorata (Andrews) Sweet
  249. Rosa × oldhamii W.H.Lewis
  250. Rosa × oligocarpa Rydb.
  251. Rosa omeiensis Rolfe
  252. Rosa onoei Makino
  253. Rosa orientalis A.Dupont ex Ser.
  254. Rosa osmastonii Rawat & Pangtey
  255. Rosa ossethica Manden.
  256. Rosa oxyacantha M.Bieb.
  257. Rosa oxyodon Boiss.
  258. Rosa × oxyodontoides Galushko
  259. Rosa × ozcelikii Korkmaz & Kandemir
  260. Rosa × palustriformis Rydb.
  261. Rosa palustris Marshall Plant FAQs: Rosa Palustris – Swamp Rose
  262. Rosa paniculigera (Makino ex Koidz.) Momiy.
  263. Rosa × paulii Rehder
  264. Rosa pedunculata Kult.
  265. Rosa pendulina L.
  266. Rosa persetosa Rolfe
  267. Rosa persica Michx. ex Juss.
  268. Rosa × perthensis Rouy & E.G.Camus
  269. Rosa × pervirens Gren. ex Crép.
  270. Rosa phoenicia Boiss.
  271. Rosa pinetorum A.Heller
  272. Rosa pinnatisepala T.C.Ku
  273. Rosa × piptocalyx Juz.
  274. Rosa pisocarpa A.Gray
  275. Rosa platyacantha Schrenk
  276. Rosa pocsii Ker.-Nagy
  277. Rosa × polliniana Spreng.
  278. Rosa × pomazensis Degen ex Ker.-Nagy
  279. Rosa popovii Chrshan.
  280. Rosa potentilliflora Chrshan. & Popov
  281. Rosa pouzinii Tratt.
  282. Rosa × praegeri Wolley-Dod
  283. Rosa praelucens Bijh.
  284. Rosa praetermissa Galushko
  285. Rosa prattii Hemsl.
  286. Rosa pricei Hayata
  287. Rosa prilipkoana Sosn.
  288. Rosa primula Boulenger
  289. Rosa prokhanovii Galushko
  290. Rosa pseudobanksiae T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  291. Rosa pseudodigitata Charit.
  292. Rosa × pseudorusticana Crép. ex W.M.Rogers
  293. Rosa pseudoscabriuscula (R.Keller) Henker & G.Schulze
  294. Rosa pubicaulis Galushko
  295. Rosa × pulcherrima Koidz.
  296. Rosa pulverulenta M.Bieb.
  297. Rosa × reversa Waldst. & Kit.
  298. Rosa rhaetica Gremli
  299. Rosa roopiae Lonacz.
  300. Rosa × rothschildii Druce
  301. Rosa × rouyana Duffort ex Rouy
  302. Rosa roxburghii Tratt.
  303. Rosa rubiginosa L. Plant FAQs: Rosa Rubiginosa – Sweet Briar Rose
  304. Rosa rubus H.Lév. & Vaniot
  305. Rosa rugosa Thunb.
  306. Rosa russanovii Tkatsch.
  307. Rosa × sabinii J.Woods
  308. Rosa × salaevensis Rapin
  309. Rosa sambucina Koidz.
  310. Rosa saturata Baker
  311. Rosa saundersiae Rolfe
  312. Rosa × scabriuscula Winch ex Sm.
  313. Rosa schergiana Boiss.
  314. Rosa schrenkiana Crép.
  315. Rosa × semiglabra Ripart ex Crép.
  316. Rosa sempervirens L.
  317. Rosa serafinii Viv.
  318. Rosa sericea Lindl.
  319. Rosa sertata Rolfe
  320. Rosa setigera Michx. Plant FAQs: Rosa Setigera
  321. Rosa setipoda Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson
  322. Rosa shangchengensis T.C.Ku
  323. Rosa shaolinchiensis S.S.Ying
  324. Rosa sherardii Davies
  325. Rosa sikangensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  326. Rosa similis Charit.
  327. Rosa sinobiflora T.C.Ku
  328. Rosa smoljanensis Popova
  329. Rosa sogdiana Tkatsch.
  330. Rosa soulieana Crép.
  331. Rosa × spaethiana Graebn.
  332. Rosa spinosissima L.
  333. Rosa × spinulifolia Dematra
  334. Rosa spithamea S.Watson
  335. Rosa squarrosa (A.Rau) Boreau
  336. Rosa stellata Wooton
  337. Rosa stylosa Desv.
  338. Rosa × subbuschiana Husseinov
  339. Rosa × subcanina (Christ) Vuk.
  340. Rosa × subcollina (Christ) Vuk.
  341. Rosa × subdola Déségl.
  342. Rosa × suberecta (Woods) Ley
  343. Rosa × suberectiformis Wolley-Dod
  344. Rosa × subintrans Gren. ex Crép.
  345. Rosa × subpomifera Chrshan.
  346. Rosa subulata Charit.
  347. Rosa taiwanensis Nakai
  348. Rosa taronensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  349. Rosa teberdensis Chrshan.
  350. Rosa × tephrophylla Gillot ex Rouy
  351. Rosa × terebinthinacea Déségl.
  352. Rosa terscolensis Galushko
  353. Rosa tianschanica Juz.
  354. Rosa tibetica T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  355. Rosa × timbalii Crép. ex Rouy
  356. Rosa tlaratensis Husseinov
  357. Rosa × toddiae Wolley-Dod
  358. Rosa tomentosa Sm.
  359. Rosa tomurensis L.Luo, C.Yu & Q.X.Zhang
  360. Rosa transcaucasica Manden.
  361. Rosa transmorrisonensis Hayata
  362. Rosa transturkestanica N.F.Russanov
  363. Rosa tschimganica Raikova ex Sumnev.
  364. Rosa tsinlingensis Pax & K.Hoffm.
  365. Rosa tunquinensis Crép.
  366. Rosa turcica Rouy
  367. Rosa turkestanica Regel
  368. Rosa uniflora Galushko
  369. Rosa uniflorella Buzunova
  370. Rosa valentinae Galushko
  371. Rosa vassilczenkoi Tkatsch.
  372. Rosa veronikae Ker.-Nagy
  373. Rosa × verticillacantha Mérat
  374. Rosa × vetteri Favrat
  375. Rosa × victoria-hungarorum Borbás
  376. Rosa × victoriana W.H.Lewis
  377. Rosa villosa L.
  378. Rosa virginiana Mill. Plant FAQs: Virginia Rose – Rosa Virginiana
  379. Rosa × vituperabilis Duffort ex Rouy
  380. Rosa × warleyensis E.Willm.
  381. Rosa webbiana Wall. ex Royle
  382. Rosa weisiensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
  383. Rosa willmottiae Hemsl.
  384. Rosa woodsii Lindl. Plant FAQs: Woods’ Rose – Rosa Woodsii
  385. Rosa xanthina Lindl.
  386. Rosa yangii L.Luo
  387. Rosa yilanalpina S.S.Ying
  388. Rosa zalana Wiesb.
  389. Rosa zaramagensis Demurova
  390. Rosa zhongdianensis T.C.Ku
  391. Rosa zuvandica Gadzh.

Beyond Beauty: The Uses of Roses

While roses are primarily known for their ornamental value, they have also played a significant role in human culture and medicine for centuries. The fragrant petals of Rosa damascena and Rosa centifolia are used to produce rose oil, a prized ingredient in perfumes and cosmetics. Rose hips, the fruit of the rose plant, are a rich source of Vitamin C and are used to make teas, jams, and even wine.  

In traditional medicine, roses have been used to treat a variety of ailments, from headaches to skin irritations. Rosewater, a byproduct of rose oil production, is believed to have soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. And in some cultures, roses hold symbolic meaning, representing love, passion, and even mourning.  

Cultivating Connection: Roses in the Modern World

Today, the passion for roses continues to thrive. Breeders continue to develop new cultivars with unique colors, forms, and fragrances. Gardeners cultivate roses in their backyards, bringing beauty and joy to their lives. And florists create stunning arrangements for special occasions, using roses to express emotions and celebrate milestones.  

For me, roses represent more than just beauty. They are a symbol of the interconnectedness of nature and human culture. They remind me of the power of plants to inspire, heal, and connect us to something larger than ourselves. As I continue to explore the world of roses, I am filled with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the intricate beauty and resilience of this remarkable genus.

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