Family: Rosaceae
Author: Sm.
Bibliography: Engl. bot. 35: t. 2459. 1813
Year: 1813
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Rosa
Vegetable: False
Observations: Europe to Caucasus
Description
The Soft Downy Rose, scientifically known as Rosa mollis, is a captivating species in the Rosaceae family. This delicate yet resilient shrub has been a part of botanical literature since 1813, thanks to the dedicated observations by Sm. and its detailed mention in “Engl. bot.” (volume 35, plate 2459).
Rosa mollis is distinguished by its soft, velvety leaves and stems, which are often covered in a fine, downy texture. This feature not only gives the plant its common name but also adds to its ornamental appeal. The foliage is a lush green, providing a perfect backdrop for the plant’s stunning, pastel-colored blossoms that typically range from pale pink to soft mauve.
The flowers of the Soft Downy Rose are a particular highlight, characterized by their gentle, unobtrusive fragrance and delicate petals. Each bloom consists of multiple layers of softly curving petals, which create a full, round shape. These blooms typically appear in late spring to early summer, making them a wonderful herald of the warmer months.
Geographically, Rosa mollis is native to a broad range stretching from Europe to the Caucasus. This wide distribution speaks volumes about the adaptability and hardiness of the species. The plant can thrive in various climates and soil types, although it generally prefers well-drained soil and a sunny position to truly flourish.
In gardens, Rosa mollis is cherished not just for its beauty but also for its ease of care. It is a relatively low-maintenance rose that requires only basic attention, such as regular watering, pruning, and occasional feeding, to maintain its health and vibrancy. Its downy leaves and hardy nature also make it less susceptible to common rose pests and diseases, contributing further to its popularity among gardeners.
Overall, the Soft Downy Rose is a wonderful addition to any garden, combining historical botanical significance with natural beauty and ease of cultivation. Its presence from Europe to the Caucasus highlights its botanical versatility and enduring appeal, ensuring its place in gardens and landscapes for years to come.
Common Names
En: Soft downy rose, Rose, Soft Downy-rose
Ar: ورد رخو
Hy: Մասրենի փափուկ
Az: Çoxçiçəkli itburnu
Be: Ружа мяккая
Da: Blød filt-rose
Eo: Mola rozo
Et: Pehme kibuvits
Fi: Iharuusu
Fr: Églantier mou, Rosier à feuilles molles
De: Weichblättrige Rose, Weiche Rose
It: Rosa a foglie flosce
Lv: Miksta roze
Se: Hárcaruvsu
Nb: Bustnype
Nn: Bustnype
Sv: Hartsros (växt), Hartsros, Iharuusu
Cy: Rhosyn blewog, Rhosyn Deilen Feddal, Rhosyn Gwlanog, Rhosyn Lledwlanog, Rhosynau Blewog
Synonyms
- Rosa mollis var. schultzei (Dingler)
- Rosa expallescens ((Matsson) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. laeticinericolor (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. prodiens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. montenegrina ((Heinr.Braun) Hayek)
- Rosa mollis resinosa (Crép.)
- Rosa villifera ((Matsson) Lindstr.)
- Rosa mollissima var. pseudorubiginosa ((Lej.) Baker)
- Rosa mollis f. caeruleatifrons (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. hesslensis (Matsson)
- Rosa dubitabilis (Lindstr.)
- Rosa petrophila (Borbás & Heinr.Braun)
- Rosa mollis f. incisula (Čelak. ex Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. denticulatior (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. minutidens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. rectellidens (Matsson)
- Rosa ruprechtii (Boiss.)
- Rosa mollis f. obliquatula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. setuligera (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima var. eglandulosa (Dumort.)
- Rosa mollis f. albidella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. echinatula (Matsson)
- Rosa atona ((Matsson) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. arrectellidens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. fuliginicolor (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. delicatula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. lappacea (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. profundula (Matsson)
- Rosa rubiginosa var. globosa (Lej. & Courtois)
- Rosa pseudopomifera var. refragata (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. villifera (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. ingestula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. morellipes (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. rigens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima var. ovata (Dumort.)
- Rosa mollis f. caerulifrons (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. curtisetigera (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. heterotypa (Matsson)
- Rosa grossella ((Matsson) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. orphnodes (Matsson)
- Rosa villosa var. pseudorubiginosa ((Lej.) Dumort.)
- Rosa mollis f. refragata (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. pseudopomifera (Lönnr. ex Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. sphaerocarpa (Schmalh.)
- Rosa mollis genuina (Crép.)
- Rosa mollis f. morula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. latellipes (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. profusidens (Matsson)
- Rosa pseudopomifera ((Lönnr. ex Matsson) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. villosifolia (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima var. nemoralis (Lange)
- Rosa mollis f. apertella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. caliginosula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. dahlstedtii (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. contrahens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis subsp. emplyota (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. loennrothii (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. orphnophora (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. refragatula (Matsson)
- Rosa kitaibelii (Borbás)
- Rosa mollis var. spinescens ((Christ) Christ)
- Rosa mollis var. pseudorubiginosa ((Lej.) Wolley-Dod)
- Rosa mollissima f. coerulea ((Woods) Christ)
- Rosa mollis f. concinericolor (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. glabrata (R.Keller)
- Rosa mollis f. depressula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. celeratipes (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. gracilens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. intentidens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. nacophora (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. progestula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. vingensis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. parvella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. rotatilis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima var. mollis ((Sm.) Drejer)
- Rosa mollis f. apicatifrons (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. calycida (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. inflagrans (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis subsp. emplyotoides (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. impomifera (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. ortalensis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. lundquistii (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. pugnacidens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima var. caerulescens (Scheutz)
- Rosa mollis var. abatensis (Hayek)
- Rosa mollis f. atona (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. conducta (Matsson)
- Rosa pseudorubiginosa (Lej.)
- Rosa mollis var. ciliatopetala ((Besser) Popek)
- Rosa villosa subsp. molligothoburgensis (Almq.)
- Rosa mollis var. nana (M.T.Lange ex Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. intracascens (Matsson)
- Rosa pomifera f. dimorphacanthoides (Krzaczek)
- Rosa mollis f. immorsella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. protendens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima var. glabrata (Fr.)
- Rosa scheutzii (Christ)
- Rosa cujavica (Sprib.)
- Rosa mollis f. rotundula (Matsson)
- Rosa heckeliana var. montenegrina (Heinr.Braun)
- Rosa mollis var. patula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima var. micrantha (Scheutz)
- Rosa villosa var. caerulea (Woods)
- Rosa mollis f. canella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. correctidens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. empylota (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. boeoschista (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. imporrectella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. ovuligera (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. lundquistii ((Matsson) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. fericula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. nigricolor (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. pyrifera ((Erikss. & Scheutz) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. stictophylla (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. glandulosior (Brenner)
- Rosa mollis f. dimorphacanthoides ((Krzaczek) Popek)
- Rosa mollissima var. caerulea ((Woods) Baker)
- Rosa mollis f. griseola (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. nemoralis ((Lange) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. satulla (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. patula ((Matsson) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. carlscronensis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. umbrosa (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. apylota (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. brithyacantha (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. epacropsis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. corretusa (Matsson)
- Rosa heldreichii (Boiss. & Reut.)
- Rosa mollissima var. grandifolia (Scheutz)
- Rosa mollis f. lygaea (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. improdiens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. papyrifrons (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. pyriformis (Schmalh.)
- Rosa mollis var. tomentosifolia (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. notoensis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. achalina (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. axvallensis (Matsson)
- Rosa modicella ((Matsson) Lindstr.)
- Rosa mollis f. areschougii (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. cinereobrunnea (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. doerfleri (Hayek)
- Rosa mollis f. globosa (Christ)
- Rosa mollissima f. typica (Christ)
- Rosa mollis f. eductidens (Matsson)
- Rosa huteri (Heinr.Braun)
- Rosa omissa var. cujavica ((Sprib.) R.Keller)
- Rosa mollis f. proclinata (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. scheutzii ((Christ) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. modicella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. vaemoensis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima f. pyriformis (Scheuchzer f.)
- Rosa mollis f. brunneata (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. corrotundans (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. ericii (J.B.Keller)
- Rosa zakatalensis (Gadzh.)
- Rosa ruprechtii var. daghestanica (Boiss.)
- Rosa mollissima f. glabrata (Christ)
- Rosa mollis f. grossella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. inaeruginea (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. macrifolia (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. pyrulifera (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. typica (Scheutz ex Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. reclinatella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. nubilosula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. bathyschista (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. sethii (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. acleistodonta (Matsson)
- Rosa pomifera subsp. mollis ((Sm.) Christ)
- Rosa mollis f. argutella (Matsson)
- Rosa villosa subsp. mollis ((Sm.) Gams)
- Rosa mollis f. fricascens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollissima f. spinescens (Christ)
- Rosa mollis f. isotoma (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis subsp. nigrans (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. proclinatula (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. schlyteri (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. molligothoburgensis ((Almq.) Matsson)
- Rosa mollis var. arenaria (Lange)
- Rosa mollissima var. pyrifera (Erikss. & Scheutz)
- Rosa mollis f. expallescens (Matsson)
- Rosa macrifolia ((Matsson) Matsson)
- Rosa tomentosa var. mollis ((Sm.) Lindl.)
- Rosa mollis f. cuneatella (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. caerulea ((Woods) Wolley-Dod)
- Rosa mollis f. egressidens (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. inalbata (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. macrophora (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. nummulifera (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. latiaculeata (Matsson)
- Rosa tomentosa var. kitaibelii ((Borbás) Hayek)
- Rosa mollis f. affusa (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. drimylopsis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. argutiformis (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis subvar. caerulea ((Woods) R.Keller)
- Rosa villosa var. mollis ((Sm.) Crép.)
- Rosa mollissima var. scheutzii ((Christ) R.Keller)
- Rosa mollis f. deficientipes (Matsson)
- Rosa mollis f. froedingii (Matsson)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Baltic States (native)
- Belgium (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Central European Rus (native)
- Denmark (native)
- East European Russia (native)
- Finland (native)
- France (native)
- Føroyar (native)
- Germany (native)
- Great Britain (native)
- Ireland (native)
- Italy (native)
- Northwest European R (native)
- Norway (native)
- Poland (native)
- Portugal (native)
- Romania (native)
- South European Russi (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sweden (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Transcaucasus (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Vermont (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Apr 26, 2020 by etienne2c (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jun 17, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 16, 2020 by olivier bernard (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 12, 2022 by Richard Thomas (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jul 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc)
Taken May 31, 2020 by karine rispal (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 12, 2022 by Richard Thomas (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken May 3, 2020 by philoup (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 2, 2022 by Terje Norli (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 26, 2020 by etienne2c (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Fruit
Taken Jul 30, 2021 by Jean pierre flayac (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Mar 11, 2020 by Razanne (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 23, 2020 by Frank Bayer (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2005 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken Jul 15, 2018 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Jun 17, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Marie PORTAS (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:733370-1)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7794668)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Rosa mollis Sm.)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3003048)
Specifications
Growth habit: Shrub
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 8
Atmospheric humidity: 4
Soil nutriments: 4
