Rosa lucieae Franch. & Rochebr. ex Crép.

Memorial Rose; Dorothy Perkins Rose

Vine

Perennial

Vascular

Dorothy Perkins Rose is a perennial woody vine in the Rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to Asia, but can be found naturalized throughout Alabama. Dorothy Perkins Rose is widely cultivated and escapes or persists on roadsides, at old home sites, in pastures, along fence rows, and in disturbed woodlands. Stems are up to 20 feet or more in length. They trail along the ground or climb over other vegetation. Stems often root when in contact with the soil. Stems are green in color when young, becoming brown with age. The stems are armored with flattened, curved prickles. Leaves are alternate, evergreen, and odd pinnately compound. There are usually seven leaflets per leaf. The leaflets are ovate to obovate, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs or glands, and have serrate margins. There are often prickles on the petioles, and sometimes on the midribs on the undersides of the leaflets. The stipules are adnate to the petiole and irregularly toothed. Fragrant flowers are produced in terminal paniculate clusters. There are five white petals and numerous stamens in the wild form. In many cultivated forms there are multiple petals derived from the stamens (petaloid stamens). Flower color in cultivated forms range from white, through pink, to red. The wild form produces an oval red fruit known as a hip (a fleshy hypanthium that surrounds a cluster of small one-seeded achenes). For many years, this species went by the name Rosa wichurana Crépin. Dorothy Perkins Rose is an old time garden favorite. It is very hardy and disease resistant. Plants are fast growing, even in poor soils. Dorothy Perkins Rose can be trained on a trellis, arbor, or along fence, or allowed to form a ground cover on banks or other hard to mow areas. There are many cultivars available.--A. Diamond

Originally published as Rosa "luciae". However, because the name honors Madame Lucie Savatier, the epithet is correctable to the appropriate latinization of Lucie which is "lucieae" (tropicos.org).

Not Native

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