391 Species in Genus Rosa

Table of Contents

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

Rosa × aberrans Wolley-Dod
Rosa abietina Gren. ex Christ
Rosa abrica Khat. & Koobaz
Rosa abscissa Charit.
Rosa abutalybovii Gadzh.
Rosa abyssinica R.Br. ex Lindl.
Rosa achburensis Chrshan.
Rosa acicularis Lindl. Plant FAQs: Rosa Acicularis – Arctic Rose
Rosa adenophylla Galushko
Rosa agnesii Ker.-Nagy
Rosa agrestis Savi
Rosa alabukensis Tkatsch.
Rosa × alba L.
Rosa alberti Regel
Rosa alexeenkoi Crép. ex Juz.
Rosa × almeriensis Rouy
Rosa × alpestris Rapin ex Reut.
Rosa altidaghestanica Husseinov
Rosa amblyophylla Kult.
Rosa × andegavensis Bastard
Rosa × andrzeiowskii Steven ex Besser
Rosa arabica (Crép. ex Boiss.) Déségl.
Rosa × archipelagica Tchubar
Rosa arensii Juz. & Galushko
Rosa arkansana Porter Plant FAQs: Rosa Arkansana – Prairie Rose
Rosa arvensis Huds.
Rosa × atlantica W.H.Lewis
Rosa × avrayensis Rouy & E.G.Camus
Rosa awarica Husseinov
Rosa baiyushanensis Q.L.Wang
Rosa × bakeri Déségl.
Rosa balakhtensis Stepanov
Rosa balcarica Galushko
Rosa balsamica Besser
Rosa banksiae W.T.Aiton
Rosa banksiopsis Baker
Rosa barbeyi Boulenger
Rosa × barthae Ker.-Nagy
Rosa beauvaisii Cardot
Rosa beggeriana Schrenk ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
Rosa bella Rehder & E.H.Wilson
Rosa bellicosa Nevski
Rosa × belnensis Ozanon
Rosa × bengyana Rouy & L.C.Lamb.
Rosa × bibracteata Bastard ex DC.
Rosa bidentata Charit.
Rosa biebersteiniana Tratt.
Rosa × bigeneris Duffort ex Rouy
Rosa × binaloudensis Vaezi, Arjmandi & Sharghi
Rosa × bishopii Wolley-Dod
Rosa × biturigensis Boreau
Rosa blanda Aiton Plant FAQs: Rosa Blanda – Smooth Rose
Rosa × blinovskyana Kult.
Rosa boissieri Crép.
Rosa × bolanderi Greene
Rosa × borhidiana Ker.-Nagy
Rosa bracteata J.C.Wendl.
Rosa bridgesii Crép. ex Rydb.
Rosa brotherorum Chrshan.
Rosa brunonii Lindl.
Rosa × budensis Borbás
Rosa bugensis Chrshan.
Rosa buschiana Chrshan.
Rosa caesia Sm.
Rosa calantha Tkatsch.
Rosa calcarea Lipsch. & Sumnev.
Rosa californica Cham. & Schltdl.
Rosa calyptopoda Cardot
Rosa × campanulata Ehrh.
Rosa × canadensis W.H.Lewis
Rosa canina L. Plant FAQs: Rosa Canina
Rosa carolina L.
Rosa caryophyllacea Besser
Rosa caudata Baker
Rosa × caviniacensis Ozanon
Rosa Centifolia – Plant FAQs: Rosa Centifolia – Cabbage Rose
Rosa chavinii Rapin ex Reut.
Rosa chengkouensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa chinensis Jacq. Plant FAQs: Rosa Chinensis
Rosa chionistrae H.Lindb.
Rosa × churchillii W.H.Lewis
Rosa cinnamomea L.
Rosa clinophylla Thory
Rosa coalita Charit.
Rosa × consanguinea Gren.
Rosa corymbifera Borkh.
Rosa corymbulosa Rolfe
Rosa × cottetii Lagger & Puget ex Cottet
Rosa coziae Nyár.
Rosa cziragensis Husseinov
Rosa Damascena – Plant FAQs: Rosa Damascena – Damask Rose
Rosa daishanensis T.C.Ku
Rosa darginica Husseinov
Rosa davidii Crép.
Rosa davurica Pall.
Rosa deqenensis T.C.Ku
Rosa derongensis T.C.Ku
Rosa deseglisei Boreau
Rosa diacantha Chrshan.
Rosa diplodonta Dubovik
Rosa dolichocarpa Galushko
Rosa doluchanovii Manden.
Rosa donetzica Dubovik
Rosa × dryadea Ripart ex Déségl.
Rosa dsharkenti Chrshan.
Rosa dubovikiae Mironova
Rosa × dulcissima Lunell
Rosa dumalis Bechst.
Rosa × dumetorum Thuill.
Rosa duplicata T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa ecae Aitch.
Rosa elymaitica Boiss. & Hausskn.
Rosa × engelmannii S.Watson
Rosa ermanica Manden.
Rosa facsarii Ker.-Nagy
Rosa fargesiana Boulenger
Rosa farreri Stapf ex Cox
Rosa × fernaldiorum W.H.Lewis
Rosa × fertilis Kult.
Rosa filipes Rehder & E.H.Wilson
Rosa flavida Charit.
Rosa foetida Herrm. Plant FAQs: Rosa Foetida – Austrian Copper Rose – Persian Yellow
Rosa foliolosa Nutt.
Rosa forrestiana Boulenger
Rosa freitagii Ziel.
Rosa fujisanensis (Makino) Makino
Rosa funingensis L.Luo & Yu Y.Yang
Rosa gadzhievii Chrshan. & Iskend.
Rosa gallica L. Plant FAQs: Rosa Gallica – Gallica Rose
Rosa galushkoi Demurova
Rosa geninae Juz.
Rosa gigantea Collett ex Crép.
Rosa × gilmaniana W.H.Lewis
Rosa giraldii Crép.
Rosa glabrifolia C.A.Mey. ex Rupr.
Rosa glauca Pourr. Plant FAQs: Rosa Glauca – Redleaf Rose – Rosa Rubrifolia
Rosa × glaucoides Wolley-Dod
Rosa glomerata Rehder & E.H.Wilson
Rosa gorenkensis Besser
Rosa graciliflora Rehder & E.H.Wilson
Rosa gracilipes Chrshan.
Rosa × grovesii (Baker) Maskew
Rosa gulczensis Tkatsch.
Rosa gymnocarpa Nutt. Plant FAQs: Rosa Gymnocarpa
Rosa × hainesii W.H.Lewis
Rosa × harmsiana W.H.Lewis
Rosa heckeliana Tratt.
Rosa helenae Rehder & E.H.Wilson
Rosa hemisphaerica Herrm.
Rosa × hemitricha Ripart ex Déségl.
Rosa × henryana W.H.Lewis
Rosa hezhangensis T.L.Xu
Rosa × hibernica Templeton
Rosa hirtissima Lonacz.
Rosa hirtula (Regel) Nakai
Rosa × hodgdonii W.H.Lewis
Rosa hohuanlinparvifolia S.S.Ying
Rosa × housei Erlanson
Rosa × hyogoensis H.Ohba & S.Akiyama
Rosa iberica Steven ex M.Bieb.
Rosa iliensis Chrshan.
Rosa iljinii Chrshan. ex Gadzh.
Rosa × implexa Gren.
Rosa incisa Charit.
Rosa indica L.
Rosa × infesta Kmet ex Heinr.Braun
Rosa inodora Fr.
Rosa × insignis (Déségl. ex Gren.) Déségl. & Ripart
Rosa × involuta Sm.
Rosa irinae Demurova
Rosa irysthonica Manden.
Rosa isaevii Gadzh. & Iskand.
Rosa issyksuensis Tkatsch.
Rosa × iwara Siebold ex Regel
Rosa jaroschenkoi Gadzh. & Iskand.
Rosa juzepczukiana Vassilcz.
Rosa kamelinii Husseinov
Rosa karaalmensis Tkatsch.
Rosa × karakalensis Kult.
Rosa karjaginii Sosn.
Rosa kazarjanii Sosn.
Rosa khasautensis Galushko
Rosa kokanica (Regel) Regel ex Juz.
Rosa kokijrimensis Tkatsch.
Rosa komarovii Sosn.
Rosa × kopetdagensis Meffert
Rosa koreana Kom.
Rosa × kosinsciana Besser
Rosa × kotschyana Boiss.
Rosa kuhitangi Nevski
Rosa kujmanica Golitsin
Rosa kunmingensis T.C.Ku
Rosa kwangtungensis T.T.Yu & H.T.Tsai
Rosa kweichowensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa laevigata Michx. Plant FAQs: Rosa Laevigata – Cherokee Rose
Rosa langyashanica D.C.Zhang & J.Z.Shao
Rosa × lasiodonta Sennen
Rosa lasiosepala F.P.Metcalf
Rosa laxa Retz.
Rosa leschenaultiana (Thory) Wight & Arn.
Rosa lichiangensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa livescens Besser
Rosa × longicolla Ravaud ex Rouy
Rosa longicuspis Bertol.
Rosa longshoushanica L.Q.Zhao & Y.Z.Zhao
Rosa lucidissima H.Lév.
Rosa lucieae Franch. & Rochebr. ex Crép.
Rosa ludingensis T.C.Ku
Rosa machailensis K.Singh, Harsh Singh, Y.P.Sharma & Gairola
Rosa macrophylla Lindl.
Rosa mairei H.Lév.
Rosa × majorugosa Palmén & Hämet-Ahti
Rosa × makinoana H.Ohba
Rosa × malmundariensis Lej.
Rosa mandenovae Gadzh.
Rosa mandonii Déségl.
Rosa manshurica Buzunova
Rosa × margerisonii F.Lees
Rosa marginata Wallr.
Rosa × mariaegraebneriae Asch. & Graebn.
Rosa × matraensis Borbás
Rosa maximowicziana Regel
Rosa × medioccidentis W.H.Lewis
Rosa memoryae W.H.Lewis
Rosa mesatlantica H.Lindb.
Rosa micrantha Borrer ex Sm.
Rosa × mikawamontana Mikanagi & H.Ohba
Rosa minutifolia Engelm.
Rosa mironovae Idrees & J.M.H.Shaw
Rosa × misimensis Nakai
Rosa miyiensis T.C.Ku
Rosa × molletorum Hesl.-Harr.
Rosa × molliformis Wolley-Dod
Rosa mollis Sm.
Rosa × momiyamae H.Ohba
Rosa montana Chaix
Rosa morrisonensis Hayata
Rosa moschata Herrm. Plant FAQs: Rosa Moschata – Musk Rose
Rosa moyesii Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson
Rosa multibracteata Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson
Rosa multiflora Thunb.
Rosa murielae Rehder & E.H.Wilson
Rosa nipponensis Crép.
Rosa nitida Willd.
Rosa × nitidula Besser
Rosa nutkana C.Presl
Rosa obtegens Galushko
Rosa × odorata (Andrews) Sweet
Rosa × oldhamii W.H.Lewis
Rosa × oligocarpa Rydb.
Rosa omeiensis Rolfe
Rosa onoei Makino
Rosa orientalis A.Dupont ex Ser.
Rosa osmastonii Rawat & Pangtey
Rosa ossethica Manden.
Rosa oxyacantha M.Bieb.
Rosa oxyodon Boiss.
Rosa × oxyodontoides Galushko
Rosa × ozcelikii Korkmaz & Kandemir
Rosa × palustriformis Rydb.
Rosa palustris Marshall Plant FAQs: Rosa Palustris – Swamp Rose
Rosa paniculigera (Makino ex Koidz.) Momiy.
Rosa × paulii Rehder
Rosa pedunculata Kult.
Rosa pendulina L.
Rosa persetosa Rolfe
Rosa persica Michx. ex Juss.
Rosa × perthensis Rouy & E.G.Camus
Rosa × pervirens Gren. ex Crép.
Rosa phoenicia Boiss.
Rosa pinetorum A.Heller
Rosa pinnatisepala T.C.Ku
Rosa × piptocalyx Juz.
Rosa pisocarpa A.Gray
Rosa platyacantha Schrenk
Rosa pocsii Ker.-Nagy
Rosa × polliniana Spreng.
Rosa × pomazensis Degen ex Ker.-Nagy
Rosa popovii Chrshan.
Rosa potentilliflora Chrshan. & Popov
Rosa pouzinii Tratt.
Rosa × praegeri Wolley-Dod
Rosa praelucens Bijh.
Rosa praetermissa Galushko
Rosa prattii Hemsl.
Rosa pricei Hayata
Rosa prilipkoana Sosn.
Rosa primula Boulenger
Rosa prokhanovii Galushko
Rosa pseudobanksiae T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa pseudodigitata Charit.
Rosa × pseudorusticana Crép. ex W.M.Rogers
Rosa pseudoscabriuscula (R.Keller) Henker & G.Schulze
Rosa pubicaulis Galushko
Rosa × pulcherrima Koidz.
Rosa pulverulenta M.Bieb.
Rosa × reversa Waldst. & Kit.
Rosa rhaetica Gremli
Rosa roopiae Lonacz.
Rosa × rothschildii Druce
Rosa × rouyana Duffort ex Rouy
Rosa roxburghii Tratt.
Rosa rubiginosa L. Plant FAQs: Rosa Rubiginosa – Sweet Briar Rose
Rosa rubus H.Lév. & Vaniot
Rosa rugosa Thunb.
Rosa russanovii Tkatsch.
Rosa × sabinii J.Woods
Rosa × salaevensis Rapin
Rosa sambucina Koidz.
Rosa saturata Baker
Rosa saundersiae Rolfe
Rosa × scabriuscula Winch ex Sm.
Rosa schergiana Boiss.
Rosa schrenkiana Crép.
Rosa × semiglabra Ripart ex Crép.
Rosa sempervirens L.
Rosa serafinii Viv.
Rosa sericea Lindl.
Rosa sertata Rolfe
Rosa setigera Michx. Plant FAQs: Rosa Setigera
Rosa setipoda Hemsl. & E.H.Wilson
Rosa shangchengensis T.C.Ku
Rosa shaolinchiensis S.S.Ying
Rosa sherardii Davies
Rosa sikangensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa similis Charit.
Rosa sinobiflora T.C.Ku
Rosa smoljanensis Popova
Rosa sogdiana Tkatsch.
Rosa soulieana Crép.
Rosa × spaethiana Graebn.
Rosa spinosissima L.
Rosa × spinulifolia Dematra
Rosa spithamea S.Watson
Rosa squarrosa (A.Rau) Boreau
Rosa stellata Wooton
Rosa stylosa Desv.
Rosa × subbuschiana Husseinov
Rosa × subcanina (Christ) Vuk.
Rosa × subcollina (Christ) Vuk.
Rosa × subdola Déségl.
Rosa × suberecta (Woods) Ley
Rosa × suberectiformis Wolley-Dod
Rosa × subintrans Gren. ex Crép.
Rosa × subpomifera Chrshan.
Rosa subulata Charit.
Rosa taiwanensis Nakai
Rosa taronensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa teberdensis Chrshan.
Rosa × tephrophylla Gillot ex Rouy
Rosa × terebinthinacea Déségl.
Rosa terscolensis Galushko
Rosa tianschanica Juz.
Rosa tibetica T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa × timbalii Crép. ex Rouy
Rosa tlaratensis Husseinov
Rosa × toddiae Wolley-Dod
Rosa tomentosa Sm.
Rosa tomurensis L.Luo, C.Yu & Q.X.Zhang
Rosa transcaucasica Manden.
Rosa transmorrisonensis Hayata
Rosa transturkestanica N.F.Russanov
Rosa tschimganica Raikova ex Sumnev.
Rosa tsinlingensis Pax & K.Hoffm.
Rosa tunquinensis Crép.
Rosa turcica Rouy
Rosa turkestanica Regel
Rosa uniflora Galushko
Rosa uniflorella Buzunova
Rosa valentinae Galushko
Rosa vassilczenkoi Tkatsch.
Rosa veronikae Ker.-Nagy
Rosa × verticillacantha Mérat
Rosa × vetteri Favrat
Rosa × victoria-hungarorum Borbás
Rosa × victoriana W.H.Lewis
Rosa villosa L.
Rosa virginiana Mill. Plant FAQs: Virginia Rose – Rosa Virginiana
Rosa × vituperabilis Duffort ex Rouy
Rosa × warleyensis E.Willm.
Rosa webbiana Wall. ex Royle
Rosa weisiensis T.T.Yu & T.C.Ku
Rosa willmottiae Hemsl.
Rosa woodsii Lindl. Plant FAQs: Woods’ Rose – Rosa Woodsii
Rosa xanthina Lindl.
Rosa yangii L.Luo
Rosa yilanalpina S.S.Ying
Rosa zalana Wiesb.
Rosa zaramagensis Demurova
Rosa zhongdianensis T.C.Ku
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.