The fruits of this small rose add winter interest to the species rose beds beside the South Walk.
While there are estimated to be over 3,000 registered rose cultivars, there are only approximately 150 species, which occur throughout the northern hemisphere. These range in size and form from small shrubs to vigorous ramblers. Rosa foliolosa is one of the smaller shrubs, reaching 1.5m, but typically only growing to 75cm – 1m in height. It has a limited distribution, occurring only in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, where it grows in dry woodland, prairie, verges, dry hillsides and ravines on limestone and sandstone. It has a suckering habit and has few thorns; leaves comprising 7 – 11 slender leaflets; single flowers which range in colour from white to rich pink; and small, bristly, red fruits.