What Kind of Rose Bush Has Long and Very Thorny Canes?

The Wingthorn Rose

• The wingthorn rose (Rosa sericea ptericantha) from China has been commercially marketed since 1890. Large, red thorns are closely packed along the canes, each being 2 inches long and standing 1 inch out from the cane. The thorns are bright red and translucent early in the season, dulling to brown later. Single, pure-white flowers with bright-yellow stamens appear in the spring for a fleeting display. The bush grows 10 feet high and 6 feet wide, thriving in low-frost regions. Delicate, ferny foliage contrasts the massive thorns. The wingthorn rose is striking planted where sunlight illuminates the thorns.

Climbing Roses

• Dr. Van Fleet is a thorny, vigorous once-bloomer with canes 20 feet long. It displays a profusion of light-pink flowers with a sweet fragrance once each spring. New Dawn is a seedling of Dr. Van Fleet, inheriting its parent's long, thorny canes. New Dawn displays flushes of moderately fragrant, double, pink roses throughout the season. Mermaid is the offspring of Rosa bracteata. Single, white flowers with bright-yellow stamens are continuously borne throughout the season. Many defensive thorns spike 20-foot canes of rich mahogany color. Mermaid planted along a fence creates an effective security measure.

Shrub Rose Othello

• Othello is an English shrub rose bred by David Austin. It displays strongly fragrant, deep crimson, fully double blooms up to 6 inches in repeating flushes throughout the season. The canes as long as 12 feet are especially thorny. Growing several own-root Othello roses for a security hedge or train it along a fence.

Rugosa Roses

• The thorny Japanese roses (R. rugosa) produce either white or rich, wine-red roses. Health and hardiness, as well as vigorous growth and receptive crossing, make Japanese roses useful to hybridizers. The color range includes pink, purple, red, white and yellow. Rugosa roses grow 6 feet high. Rose a Parfum de l'Hay grows vigorously to 6 feet tall with thick, upright, thorny canes. Strongly fragrant, magenta roses are fully double and cupped in form, displayed in an early flush with later occasional repeat through the season. Hansa grows as high as 7 feet, producing purple roses in an early flush with occasional repeat. The fragrance is strong clove.