Cinnamom Rose

Cinnamom rose (Rosa majalis), also called cinnamon rose or May rose, is a wild rose shrub in the family Rosaceae, native to a broad band of temperate Europe and Asia, from Scandinavia and western Russia east across the boreal zone to Siberia and Central Asia. It grows in open woodland, scrub, forest margins, river banks, and montane meadows, tolerating a wide range of soils and preferring well-drained, moderately fertile conditions. The plant typically reaches 1–2 meters in height and produces fragrant pink flowers in late spring to early summer, followed by bright red hip fruits rich in vitamin C. The name cinnamon rose refers to the brown, cinnamon-like bark of the older stems. Rosa majalis is not formally assessed by the IUCN and is generally considered common and widespread across its Eurasian range. The rose hips have been used in folk medicine, jams, teas, and vitamin C supplements across its range for centuries. It hybridizes readily with other wild roses, and taxonomic boundaries within the genus Rosa are complex. This species is a legitimate component of Scandinavian and northern European flora, including Norway, making it one of the few species in this dataset whose Norwegian records are accurate. It provides important food for birds and small mammals in winter months.