Rosa tomentosa, commonly known as the Harsh Downy-Rose, is a deciduous shrub native to a variety of habitats including hedgerows, woodland margins, and scrublands across Asia Minor, the Caucasus, and much of Europe, such as the British Isles, France, Central Europe, northern Spain, Italy, and the Balkans. It can grow up to 10 feet tall and is characterized by its stout, arching stems and the presence of prickles. The foliage is pinnate with five to seven leaflets, which are downy beneath, giving the plant its common name.

The Harsh Downy-Rose typically flowers between June and July, producing fragrant flowers that range from dark to light pink. The flowers are followed by oval hips, which mature in autumn and are rich in vitamin C. These hips are often used in syrups, teas, and jellies for their health benefits. In cultivation, Rosa tomentosa is valued for its fragrant flowers and ornamental hips, as well as its use in creating natural hedges and wildlife gardens. It prefers full sun to partial shade and thrives in well-drained soils, though it is tolerant of a range of soil types. This rose is relatively low-maintenance but can be susceptible to common rose diseases such as black spot and powdery mildew. It is also used in traditional medicine for its astringent properties.CC BY-SA 4.0