Rosa Foetida

Rosa foetida is a species of rose, native to the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia. It has yellow flowers with a mild, sour scent many find objectionable, thus the species name. Though grown widely outside its range (for example, in Britain and America), it is particularly susceptible to black spot.

An important rose, in as much as it is the source of yellow in modern-day hybrids, most famously 'Soleil d'Or' (R. foetida x 'Antoine Ducher'; 1900), was bred by Joseph Pernet-Ducher. One variety, Rosa foetida var. 'bicolor' , the Austrian Copper rose, has flowers with petals that are red or orange on the upper interior surface but yellow on the lower exterior surface.

Rosa foetida syns:

Austrian Briar

• Austrian Brier

• Austrian Yellow

• Capucine jaune

• Fuchsrose

• Jaune Simple

• Rosa cerea Rössig ex Redouté

• Rosa eglanteria Redouté & Thory synonym

• Rosa foetida Herrm.

• Rosa lutea Mill. synonym

• Single Yellow Sweet Brier

• Yellow Austrian Rose.

Also referenced as: R. lutea, Rosa lutea simplex, Geel Rose, Rosa Aegyptia, Rosa vulpina, Rosa lutea flore simplici, R. cerea

Hybrid Foetida, Species / Wild.

Deep yellow. Strong, unpleasant fragrance. 5 petals. Medium, single (4-8 petals), borne mostly solitary bloom form. Once-blooming spring or summer.

Arching, upright, well-branched. Small, semi-glossy, dark green foliage. 5 to 9 leaflets.

Height of 150 to 300 cm. Width of 150 cm.

Zone 3 through 9.

Tetraploid.

Described in Gerald's Herbal, 1597.

Sometimes sets hips.

Belongs to the Pimpinellifolia section (styles free, shorter than the stamens, blooms solitary, without bracts). Has doubly serrated and abaxially glandular leaflets like R. ecae and R. primula, but differs from this by its downy leaves, larger deep-yellow blooms and unpleasant fragrance.