Appreciation: Winged thorn rose

I am very fond of Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis forma pteracantha, winged thorn rose. I first saw it four years ago at English Bay and posted some photos on flickr at Search: rosa sericea | Flickr. I just discovered that the Wikipedia page for Rosa sericea is using one of those photos.

These photos are from today at another Vancouver Parks Board planting at Nelson Park in the West End. At both locations, the plants are cut back in the winter (for sure, they were cut back last winter), as it's the new growth that is so showy. And it grows in so nicely.

 

it's the new growth that is so showy

And in addition the mature brown thorns are actually rather ugly.

 

I have favourite photos of this cultivar, and I'm so surprised when I look for it on the forums and don't find my photos that I like - I just linked to them on Flickr. So these are five year old photos.


I've seen it recently in Stanley Park near the Pavilion, and here in Queen Elizabeth Park near the Rose Garden, with a fruit.

 

I have never seen this cultivar in the flesh before, it looks lethal. Any photos of it in flower wendy?

 

No, I don't think I've seen the flowers, but it must have done it to get some fruits. Single whites, I'd love them.

 

Thanks for the quick reply Wendy, shame you don't have any, but it does look impressive anyway.

 

Lovely photos, Wendy. I appreciate the ID.

 

I missed the flowers again on the Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis forma pteracantha, winged thorn rose. I don't think I've seen fruits on this plant, so maybe these don't even flower when then Parks Board prunes them way back once or twice a year.

 

That amount of pruning will definitely prevent them from flowering, as the flowers are produced on 2nd-year and older stems.