C. Dutch Rose (Rosa rugosa 'Hollandica')

The Dutch Rose, Rosa 'Hollondica' has the Latin name Rosa rugosa 'Hollandica' to indicate that it is a hybrid of a native British rose, Rosa rugosa, the English name of which is Japanese Rose. The second parent from which it is derived is unknown.

This rose forms dense thickets of uneven height.

Identifying native roses

There are a number of different rose plants in the cemetery. Apart from in the small 'memorial' corner which has been planted with roses just inside the Cemetery gates, there are various climbing and rambling roses that at first glance are all dog-roses. However, text books make it clear that there are at least 12 different species of native rose, of which Dog-rose (Rosa canina) is just one. Some of these have white flowers, others pink ones, and one has red flowers.

We are lucky to have the support of a number of specialists in their field who help us with species identification and, for plants, Sue Denness of the Sussex Botanical Recording Society has been especially helpful. During her visit to the cemetery in June 2022, she was kind enough to pay attention to these different roses, and took some cuttings away to be identified by a fellow botanist who specializes in roses, Elisabeth Sturt.

The individual plant photographed here, which can be found in the south-west corner of the cemetery, is Rosa hollandica or Rosa rugosa hollandica, which is known as a Dutch Rose.