← Species guide
Japanese rose
Watch listRosa rugosa
A thorny dune invader. It binds and over-stabilises mobile sand, which is exactly the wrong thing for Swansea Bay and Gower dune systems that depend on bare sand.
How to identify it
- Dense prickly thicket to 1.5m with wrinkled, ribbed leaves
- Large single pink or white flowers
- Fat tomato-like red hips
Why it matters
- Over-stabilises dunes and shades out dune specialists
- Forms impenetrable thickets that block access to beaches and paths
How to control it
- Dig out entire root systems on small clumps
- Cut and treat stumps, then check yearly for suckers
