Peter Beales Roses

31 RHS Chelsea Gold Medals

Rosa Horrida

Root Type
Price: £25.00
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Key Information
Please use this as a guide, these are live plants and can be different due to your soil, sunlight, watering routine and feed.
Rose Type
Bare Root
Rose Family
The Shrub species
Date of Introduction
1796
Rose Colour
White/Cream
Suitable For
Growing in pots
Height Range
60cm x 60cm (2ft x 2ft)
Fragrance
Little or No Fragrance
Bloom
Single
Wildlife Friendly Rose
Yes
Thorn
Ideal security barrier

Potted roses are supplied in a 5.5 litre pot.

(The Shrub species) A curious and distinctive species, Rosa Horrida produces small, delicate white single flowers in April and May, followed by globular, dark red, stubbly hips that lend it a strikingly gooseberry-like appearance throughout the seasons. Its gnarled, thorny character gives it a wild, untamed beauty quite unlike any other rose in cultivation. Known also as Rosa biebersteinii, this rare species is unique to our collection in the UK.

Key Information
Height Range: 60cm x 60cm (2ft x 2ft)
Rose Type: Bare Root Rose
Rose Family: The Shrub species
Colour: White
Flowering Period: April | May
Fragrance: Little or no fragrance

Similar Roses
Rosa Altaica (Shrub Rose) | Rosa Fedtschenkoana | Rosa Multiflora Watsoniana (Shrub Rose) | Rosa Omeiensis Pteracantha

Important product information

Bare-root roses ship November–March only. Orders placed April–October will be held as a pre-order and dispatched November–December, weather permitting.

Tracking details will be sent by email.

Potted roses ship year-round.

Plant Calendar

  • Planting Time
  • Flowering Time

Potted roses can be planted at any time of year; the planting window shown here is for bare-root roses.

Rose Features

  • Wildlife friendly icon Wildlife Friendly
  • Suitable for pot icon Suitable for Pots

Great companion plants for Rosa Horrida

Plants that grow well alongside Species Rose roses like Rosa Horrida.

  • Ammi Majus

    Ammi Majus

    Why grow this with Rosa Horrida?

    Lacy, cow-parsley-like flowerheads make an elegant filler between roses and are a favourite with hoverflies and other beneficial insects.

  • Fennel

    Fennel

    Why grow this with Rosa Horrida?

    Feathery bronze or green foliage adds soft texture beside roses, and its flowers attract hoverflies and lacewings that prey on aphids.

  • Ornamental Grass

    Ornamental Grass

    Why grow this with Rosa Horrida?

    Upright, airy seed heads move in the breeze, giving structure and movement that contrasts with a rose's dense form, especially into autumn.

  • Honeysuckle

    Honeysuckle

    Why grow this with Rosa Horrida?

    A classic climbing partner that shares a trellis or wall beautifully with climbing roses, adding evening fragrance when many roses are less scented.

  • Verbena Bonariensis

    Verbena Bonariensis

    Why grow this with Rosa Horrida?

    Tall, airy stems let you see through to the roses behind, while its lilac flowers keep the border buzzing with bees and butterflies well into autumn.

  • Catmint

    Catmint

    Why grow this with Rosa Horrida?

    Its billowing grey-green foliage softens bare rose stems, and its long flowering season keeps pollinators visiting long after the first flush of roses is over.

Frequently asked questions

Bare-root Rosa Horrida roses are best planted during their dormant season, from November to March, which is also when we dispatch them. Potted roses are grown in containers and can be planted at any time of year — just avoid periods of hard frost or drought, and water thoroughly after planting.

Every rose we sell is covered by our 1-year Rose Guarantee, so you can plant Rosa Horrida with confidence. See our Rose Guarantee page for the full details.

Often, yes — we grow our roses ourselves and stock varies through the season, so a variety that's sold out can come back. Use the "Notify me" button above to be emailed the moment Rosa Horrida is back in stock.

Rosa Horrida's mature growth range is 60cm x 60cm (2ft x 2ft). Growing conditions such as soil, sunlight, feeding and pruning can affect the final size, so treat this as a guide rather than an exact figure.

Shrub roses are a broad, informal group bred mainly for garden performance rather than a single flower shape — most repeat-flower generously, have good disease resistance, and combine well with other plants in a mixed border. They typically grow into a rounded, bushy shape rather than climbing or trailing.

Rosa Horrida belongs to our The Shrub species group.

Species roses are the original wild roses that all garden roses descend from, largely unchanged by breeding. They typically flower once, in a simple five-petalled form, and many go on to produce decorative autumn hips — a good choice for wildlife gardens and naturalistic planting.

Rosa Horrida belongs to our The Shrub species group of species roses.

Icon key

What the icons on our roses mean.

  • Fragrant Has a noticeable scent. The product page tells you how strong it is.
  • Repeat flowering Flowers more than once through the season, rather than a single show.
  • Disease tolerant Naturally tolerant of common rose diseases such as blackspot and mildew.
  • Wildlife friendly Flowers that provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinators.
  • Good for cutting Long-lasting blooms on stems that suit cutting for the vase.
  • Ornamental hips Produces decorative hips in autumn, which also feed the birds.
  • Award winning Has won awards. They are listed under Key Information on the product page.
  • Suitable for pots Happy growing in a container on a patio or balcony.
  • Grow up an arch Can be trained over an arch, pergola or doorway.
  • Grow up a wall Can be trained up a wall or fence.
  • Partial shade tolerant Copes with a position that only gets sun for part of the day.

Icons only appear on roses that have the feature. Please use them as a guide: roses are living plants and can vary with your soil, sunlight and care.