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Double Burnet or Scottish Rose

Rosa pimpenellifolia-double pink or double white  • 

General description

Dating from before 1780 this rose forms a dense thicket of thorny stems and  small bright green foliage  and masses of double white or pink flowers with a rich lemony rose fragrance in late May.  They were very popular in the early 19th century.  We have double pink which was the first plant I grew from cuttings in the 1960s from a hedge oustide an old cottage in the village of Farmborough near Bath. The hedge had been there for centuries and was only destroyed a few years ago. We also have double white also from cuttings given to me from a cottage garden in the village of Doccombe on Dartmoor. This rose makes a great low hedge and grows on its own root stock. It is one of the hardiest roses and thrives even on a wall or hedge bank. The wild single species also grows in coastal regions and seens quite tolerant of saline conditions.

Plant requirements

No special requirement it is as tough as old boots!

Maintenance

removing suckers that can spring up some distance from the main plant

Practical use

Excellent hedge

Properties

Height
1 cm
Soil type
Any, Loam, Sand
Sunlight
Full sun
PH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist but well-drained
Hardiness
Hardy