Rosa cymosa Tratt.

Shrubs evergreen, climbing or scandent, 2–5 m. Branchlets terete, glabrous or pubescent; prickles scattered, hooked, to 6 mm, flat, gradually tapering to a broad base. Leaves including petiole 5–10 cm; stipules caducous, free, linear, membranous, margin entire, apex acuminate; rachis and petiole glabrous or pubescent, often sparsely prickly, rarely glandular-pubescent; leaflets 3–5, rarely 7, ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, 2.5–6 × 0.8–2.5 cm, leathery, both surfaces glabrous, abaxially puberulous along midvein or both surfaces densely puberulous, midvein prominent, adaxially shiny, base subrounded, margin acutely serrulate, apex acuminate. Flowers numerous, 2–2.5 m in diam., in compound corymbs; pedicel ca. 1.5 cm, pubescent when young, glabrescent; bracts lanceolate, margin sparsely glandular-pubescent, apex acuminate. Hypanthium globose or ovoid, glabrous. Sepals 5, deciduous, ovate, abaxially subglabrous, rarely setose, adaxially sparsely white tomentose, margin often pinnately lobed, apex acuminate. Petals 5, fragrant, white or yellow, obovate, base cuneate, apex emarginate. Styles free, slightly exserted, nearly equaling stamens, densely white pubescent. Hip red, black, purple, or black-brown, globose, 4–7 mm in diam. Fl. May–Jun, fr. Jul–Nov.

Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, E Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, S Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Laos, Vietnam].

Hills, open slopes, stream sides, roadsides; 200--1800 m.

Rosa amoyensis Hance; R. banksiae W. T. Aiton var. microcarpa Regel; R. bodinieri H. Léveillé & Vaniot; R. cavaleriei H. Léveillé; R. chaffonjonii H. Léveillé & Vaniot; R. esquirolii H. Léveillé & Vaniot; R. fukienensis Metcalf; R. indica Linnaeus, p.p.; R. microcarpa Lindley; R. sorbiflora Focke.

Rosa cymosa is a species of climbing rose native to China, where it grows from the east coast in Fujian to western Sichuan at up to 1300 m, in warm areas in scrub and gorges, and in bamboo plantations. It is sometimes called the elderflower rose as its flower formation resembles elderberry (Sambucus) flowers.

Rosa cymosa has long smooth or hairy stems to 5 m, with a few, hooked thorns. Shoots and leaves are bright red when young. The leaflets are narrowly lanceolate, rounded at the base, and acuminate with a slender, curved point. Stipules are narrow and not attached to the stalk, or soon falling. The pedicels are slender. Flowers small and numerous, in a compound umbel or corymb, creamy-white, 1–1.5 cm across. The hips very small and round, around 5 mm across, and are dull or scarlet-red in color with many small seeds.

Rather tender, probably best grown in a greenhouse or conservatory in frosty climates. Flowers in late May and early June.