These are the wild roses--very old roses that have grown naturally long before any breeding programs began--and their descendents. Species roses include both shrubs roses and climbers; many are both strong growers and cold-hardy.

Some of the more readily available species roses are R. banksiae, the Lady Banks' rose, a popular climber that can reach 20 feet or more and is disease-resistant; R. eglanteria, known as sweet briar or eglantine and noted for its fragrance of green apples; R. x harisonii, Harrison's yellow rose, a deciduous shrub that was planted in California's Gold Country and can still be found there today; and R. rugosa, a fragrant bloomer with distinctive hips that is very tough and hardy. Rugosa roses are often used to prevent erosion on slopes.