Rosa filipes is a species of rose native to western China, in Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, and Yunnan.

It is a deciduous climbing shrub, growing to 3–5 m, rarely up to 9 m tall. The leaves are pinnate, 8-14 cm long, with 5-7 leaflets. The flowers are white, 2-2.5 cm diameter with five petals, produced in large 15-30 cm diameter corymbs of up to 100 flowers. The fruit is a red 8-15 mm diameter hip.

Cultivation and uses

It is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, valued for its unusually large clusters of flowers compared to other roses, sometimes also for its size, and its ability to climb into trees. The cultivar 'Kiftsgate' has flower clusters up to 45 cm diameter.

References

• Flora of China: Rosa filipes
• Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan.