Growing Rosa spinosissima

For the earliest of blooms among your roses, get thee a species rose. Here’s a real beauty: Rosa spinosissima, also known as the Scotch Rose. Ours was always tied for earliest rose to flower with R hugonis (more on that one soon.) When I first added her to the garden, I knew I would love her simply because I adore species and single-petaled roses and plus those black hips are just too beautiful. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was just how fragrant R spinosissima is. The scent, which to my nose is sweet and honey-like, would waft for yards across our garden on a warm spring day. It was such a pleasant surprise! Here are some photos of ours growing in our (former) pollinator-friendly garden.