Cherokee rose
Rosa laevigata
Family: Rosaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It is climbing and has thorny stems. It grows 9 m high and spreads 6 m wide. The leaves are leathery and glossy green. They have 3-5 leaflets. There are teeth along the leaflets. The flowers are large and occur singly. They are 6-8 cm across. They are nearly flat when open. They are white or cream. They have 5 petals. They have a scent. The fruit are bristly hips that are orange-red.
There are about 150 Rosa species and many cultivated varieties.
Where it is found
It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in warm temperate and subtropical SE Asia. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. Arboretum Tasmania.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Australia, China (country/location of origin), Dominican Republic, Haiti, Indochina, Jamaica, Japan, North America, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tasmania, USA, Vietnam, West Indies
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten. They are used in drinks and soups. The root is sliced and used for tea.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds, roots - tea
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Kim-anh, Huong vung, Jin-ying zhi