Side by side
Burnet rose or dog rose? How to tell them apart
Rosa spinosissima · Rosa canina
How to tell them apart – burnet rose: low, dense rose bristling with straight prickles, with small leaflets, creamy white flowers and glossy black hips; dog rose: a tall shrub with curved prickles, pink flowers and red hips.
How do you recognise them?
- Burnet rose
- Low, dense rose bristling with straight prickles, with small leaflets, creamy white flowers and glossy black hips.
- Dog rose
- Wild rose with arching, prickly stems, pink flowers and red rose hips.
- Compared with burnet rose: a tall shrub with curved prickles, pink flowers and red hips.
| Burnet rose | Dog rose | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Alternate, pinnate with 7–11 small (0.5–1.5 cm), round leaflets, single- or double-toothed; reminiscent of burnet leaves. | Alternate, pinnate with 5–7 toothed leaflets; stipules at the base. |
| Flowering | Creamy white, sometimes pale pink flowers (2–4 cm), borne singly on short side shoots, in May–June; lightly scented (May–June). | Single, pale pink to white flowers with five petals, June (June). |
| Fruit | Round, glossy purplish-black hips (1–1.5 cm) still crowned with the sepals, in August–September. | Red rose hips, rich in vitamin C (tea, jam); the hairs inside are itchy. |
| Bark | Stems densely covered with straight prickles mixed with stiff bristles. | Green to red stems with hooked prickles. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 0.3–1 m | Shrub, 2–4 m |
| Site | Full sun, any garden soil, dry | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | Yes | Yes |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | – | Yes, for bees, butterflies and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | February–March | February–March |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Both are native and good for wildlife: choose what suits your soil, your light and the space you have.
Read on
- Plant profile: Burnet rose
- Plant profile: Dog rose
- Burnet rose: when and how to prune
- Dog rose: when and how to prune
- Identification key
Also looks like
- Burnet rose or Japanese rose
- Sweet-briar or dog rose
- Dog rose or Japanese rose
- Burnet rose or sweet-briar
- Field-rose or dog rose
- Bramble or dog rose
- Raspberry or dog rose
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.