Plant Details

Rosa pimpinellifolia

Burnet Rose, Scotch rose

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Rosa pimpinellifolia.

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Common names

5 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Burnet Rose
  • Scotch rose
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Duinroos
  • Schotse roos
French
  • Rosier pimprenelle
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Rosa pimpinellifolia
Taxonomic placement (Kew): Rosa spinosissima var. spinosissima View name reference ↗

The linked source explicitly identifies Rosa pimpinellifolia L., which Kew places here. Other author-qualified pimpinellifolia names refer to different roses and are excluded.

Sources [2] [3] [4]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rosa (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Burnet Rose, Scotch rose

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.00 m
Spread: 1.00 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4-8
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Seed
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Hedge, Fragrant

Description

Fruit - edible in both raw and cooked form. Despite its small size of up to 15 mm, this fruit has an unusually sweet and pleasant taste. Note that there is little flesh around the many seeds. The seed is notable for its high vitamin E content. It can be ground into powder and mixed with flour or added as a supplement to other foods. Be sure to remove the seed hairs thoroughly before consumption. A delicious tea can be made from these fruits with a fruity flavor, which is very rich in vitamin C, even richer than that of R. canina.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 846416; name ID 2964569; Rosa L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Rosa spinosissima var. spinosissima
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; The linked source explicitly identifies Rosa pimpinellifolia L., which Kew places here. Other author-qualified pimpinellifolia names refer to different roses and are excluded.

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Rosa pimpinellifolia L.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Taxonomic synonyms or horticultural name section. The linked source explicitly identifies Rosa pimpinellifolia L., which Kew places here. Other author-qualified pimpinellifolia names refer to different roses and are excluded.

    Source checked on .

  4. Plants For A Future Rosa pimpinellifolia - L.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Catalogue source profile: authorship and name context only. The linked source explicitly identifies Rosa pimpinellifolia L., which Kew places here. Other author-qualified pimpinellifolia names refer to different roses and are excluded.

    Source checked on .