Plant Details

Rosa villosa

Apple Rose

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

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Common names

21 names · 17 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Apple Rose[1]
  • villous downy-rose[1]
Other languages (16)
Dutch
French
  • Rosier velu[1]
  • Rosier à pommes
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 苹果薔薇[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 蘋果薔薇[1]
Czech
  • růže měkká[1]
Danish
  • Spansk hyben-rose[1]
Finnish
  • luumuruusu[1]
German
Hungarian
  • gyapjas rózsa[1]
Lithuanian
  • Stambiavaisis erškėtis[1]
Norwegian
  • plommenype[1]
Polish
  • Róża jabłkowata[1]
Russian
  • Шиповник мохнатый[1]
Slovak
  • ruža jabĺčková[1]
Swedish
Ukrainian
  • Шипшина волохата[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

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

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Rosa villosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Apple Rose — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Rosier velu — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • růže měkká — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Bottelroos — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Viltroos — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • plommenype — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Шиповник мохнатый — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Apfelrose — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • villous downy-rose — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Stambiavaisis erškėtis — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • hartsros — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • plommonros — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • 蘋果薔薇 — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • 苹果薔薇 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Шипшина волохата — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • gyapjas rózsa — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Spansk hyben-rose — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • Róża jabłkowata — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • luumuruusu — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.
  • ruža jabĺčková — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 167996; Rosa villosa.

General information

Scientific name: Rosa villosa
Accepted name (Kew): Rosa villosa L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

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

Sources [1]
Also known as: Apple Rose
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.22–2.44 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 1.52–1.83 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Arching, Dense, Multi-stemmed

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Tea, Seed
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
Hedge, Fragrant

Description

Fruits - edible both raw and cooked. They have a pleasantly sour pulp and can be used to make jam and jelly. The fruits are about 30 mm in diameter but have only a thin layer of flesh surrounding many seeds. They are rich in vitamin C, with 1303 mg per 100 g (fresh weight). Be cautious when eating these fruits due to potential hazards; refer to the explanation above. The seeds are a good source of vitamin E and can be ground into powder to add to flour or other foods as a supplement. Make sure to remove the seed hairs. The leaves can be used as a coffee substitute. A pleasant fruit-flavored tea is made from the dried fruits.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/08
Harvest ends: 31/10

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 familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 846416; name ID 2964569; Rosa L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 370789; name ID 2975792; Rosa villosa L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Rosa villosa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .