Rosa sempervirens - St. John's rose (Forest alveolus)

Genus of approximately 150 species of perennial, semi-evergreen or deciduous shrubs and climbers. They are found in a wide variety of habitats in Asia, Europe, North Africa and North America. Rosa sempervirens is an evergreen climbing plant, up to 3-6 m tall. It has thin, creeping or erect ascending stems, glabrous, green in color with shades of red, with scattered curved thorns. Dark green leaves, composed, made up of 5-7 leaflets. Simple, white, fragrant, showy flowers, gathered in inflorescences of 3-7 elements. Subspherical fruit, red when ripe.

Pedoclimatic needs

It prefers sunny exposures but also adapts to partial shade. It can grow in all types of soil, even clayey or poor and stony, with summer aridity. Characteristic element of the Mediterranean scrub, it grows on the edges of the woods, in clearings and among the scrub, reaching altitudes up to 800/1000 m above sea level. Rosa Sempervirens is completely rustic and resists cold and frosts down to -15° /-18° C. It also resists drought well. Ideal for fences, as a ground cover on slopes or to climb onto pergolas.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Rosa sempervirens

Family: Rosaceae