Expanded blossoming network, featuring plants like roses, hawthorns, and raspberries
The Rosaceae family, encompassing over 3,000 plant species, plays a significant role worldwide. It boasts a wide array of popular garden plants and a myriad of fruit-producing varietals, including roses, geum, alchemilla, potentilla, apples, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, almond trees, and several lesser-known species.
Take a look at our curated list of the ten most beautiful roses to cultivate. Known for their enchanting simplicity, the flowers in this family generally have five petals with a central cluster of stamens. Over time, talented breeders have managed to double the blooms on various plants, such as roses and flowering cherries. Notably, some members, like sanguisorba,Amazingly, some species within the Rose family do not sport petals at all.
Rosaceae plants thrive in a multitude of conditions but originally hail from temperate climates. They are highly attractive to wildlife, offering benefits to both insects and birds.
In your garden, you'll find a Rosaceae family member that suits your preferences. Here are some key plants within this family:
Roses
The rose family is home to countless beautiful rose varieties, ranging from compact patio and ground cover types to stunning shrub and climbing roses and ramblers. Navigating your way through the myriad of rose types can be confusing, but we've got you covered with our breakdown of the different types of roses.
Apples (Malus)
Apples originate from central Asia and have captivated people for millennia with their delectable fruits. Notably, crab apples showcase exquisite blossoms in the spring. Explore our essential apple care guide to keep your apple trees in tip-top shape.
Cherries, Almonds, and Plums (Prunus)
The Prunus genus comprises cherries, almonds, plums, and ornamental varieties known for their beautiful blossoms. Venture over to our video guide to learn how to plant a cherry tree.
Strawberries
Contrary to popular belief, strawberries are not actually the fruit of the plant. Instead, the true fruit are the pips enclosed within the red part. Strawberries come in various sizes, from alpine varieties to juicy, plump garden types. Discover our feature on Strawberry types explained for a deeper understanding of this delightful fruit. follow these expert tips to create and maintain a strawberry bed, and uncover secrets for harvesting strawberries throughout the summer.
Geum
Geums are hardy perennials that flourish from late spring to the height of summer. Known for their semi-evergreen foliage, these ornamental plants display flowers in yellow, orange, and red hues. Peruse our guide to discover the best geums to grow within your own garden borders.
Raspberries
Raspberries offer summertime joy when their insignificant flowers transform into juicy, flavorful fruits. Choose both summer and autumn-fruiting raspberries for harvesting opportunities from late June through October. Get essential tips in our raspberry grow guide to help you enjoy homegrown raspberries all season long.
Alchemilla
Alchemilla mollis, also known as lady's mantle, features small, delicate lime-green summer flowers and neatly pleated apple-green, fan-shaped leaves. Alchemilla venosa boasts finely textured, blue-green foliage and clusters of tiny yellow-green flowers in summer. Both varieties make excellent choices for shade-tolerant ground cover beneath roses and are self-seeding.
Ornamental Quince
The ornamental quince (chaenomeles) provides early spring color, with its bright orange, red, or pink flowers gracing the thorny stems for weeks. These decorative plants often bear rounded green or yellow fruits that can be crafted into mouth-watering jellies. Ideal for any soil, chicken wire is recommended for training up shady walls.
Sanguisorba
Sanguisorba, or burnet, features unusual oval flowers without petals yet captivates bees with their allure. In the wild, these herbaceous perennials thrive in damp grasslands, meadows, and along the banks of rivers and lakes, favoring moist soil in full sun or partial shade.
Additional Members of the Rosaceae Family
- Apricot (Prunus armeniaca): Mainly grown for its sweet fruit, apricots add tantalizing appeal to gardens and culinary endeavors.
- Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa): A small, attractive deciduous shrub or tree with dark black fruit valued for its rustic, rugged charm.
- Boysenberry (Rubus ursinus): A luscious hybrid featuring a sweet-tart flavor, boysenberries are treasured in home gardens.
- Cinquefoil (Potentilla): Appreciated for its pretty, strawberry-like flowers and edible uses in herbal remedies, cinquefoil is also an excellent ground cover option.
- Dewberry (Rubus species): Similar to raspberries but with a more sprawling habit, dewberries offer additional choices for those seeking elements of wilderness within their gardens.
- Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus): Known for its tall, feathery plumes, Goat's Beard is a favorite addition to floral arrangements.
- Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis): While alchemilla is mentioned, focusing on lady's mantle specifically can provide additional context for readers intrigued by this ornamental plant's unique qualities.
- Loganberry (Rubus loganobaccus): A delicious hybrid of blackberry and raspberry, loganberries captivate with their deep purple hue.
- Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus): This shrub or small tree adds interest with its beautiful foliage and flowers.
- Spirea (Spiraea): These flowering shrubs contribute visually appealing additions to garden borders and often attract butterflies.
- Sweetbrier or Eglantine (Rosa rubiginosa): Famed for its fragrant flowers and hips, sweetbrier or eglantine adds aroma and allure to formal gardens.
- Shrubby Cinquefoil (Dasiphora): Hardy and low-growing, shrubby cinquefoil offers tough, white or yellow flowers and can be used as ground cover.
Embodying the essence of diversity, the Rosaceae family encompasses a vast range of fruits, ornamental plants, and interesting characteristics that contribute to its widespread appeal and utility in a variety of gardens.
Explore the vast array of home-and-garden plants within the Rosaceae family, particularly geum, a hardy perennial that flourishes from late spring to summer with yellow, orange, and red blooms. Additionally, consider alchemilla, also known as lady's mantle, with its lime-green summer flowers and apple-green foliage, suitable for shade-tolerant ground cover beneath roses.
