The brier roses - Origin of the Scotch briars; the Stanwell Perpetual

Chapter 3 (extract 3) of "Roses for English Gardens" by Jekyll and Mawley (1902), in which Miss Jekyll describes the origin of the Scotch brier and notes the strengths and weaknesses of the Stanwell Perpetual.

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Illustration: Burnet rose on a rough garden bank

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The Scotch Briers are derived from the native Burnet Rose (R. spinosissima), and are amongst the hardiest and most accommodating of their race. Even in the poorest soils they will grow freely if only they are given a little nutritive encouragement in their first year; after that they take care of themselves. The Burnet Rose is found in many parts of England and Scotland, generally in heathy places not very far from the sea. Among its many merits the beauty of its large, round, black hips should not be forgotten. These are like exaggerated black currants, only more flattened at the poles, with a diameter of from half to three-quarters of an inch.

There is a useful Rose, a hybrid of these Briers, that should be grown with them, called Stanwell Perpetual. It fully deserves its name, as it flowers throughout the summer. Its weak point is a somewhat straggly habit. To correct this it is well to place three plants in one group close together — that is to say, about a foot apart — when they will close up and form a well-shaped bush.