The bristly hips of this hybrid rose can be admired in southern side of the Rose Garden.
Rosa x coryana was raised from a cross of R. roxburghii and R. macrophylla by the geneticist Dr Charles Hurst (a870 – 1947). Hurst’s principle interest was in the cytology of the genus Rosa, and much of his work was based here in the Botanic Garden, where he raised three garden-worthy primary hybrids: R. ‘Cantab’, R. x pteragonis ‘Cantabrigiensis’, and R. x ‘Coryana’. The latter is a large shrub, growing to 2.5 m in height and x 2 m in width, and having stout stems. In early summer this last rose produces large, open blooms of a deep pink, which have a central boss of yellow stamens. Once the heavily veined leaflets have been shed, the pendent, bristly hips are exposed to add winter interest.