The discovery of the highly invasive Rosa rugosa (Rosaceae) and its introduction into cultivation in Europe

Résumé fourni par la source

Rosa rugosa Thunb. (Rosaceae), a native of the temperate zones of the Far East, has become a highly invasive neophyte in the northern hemisphere and radically effects coastal vegetation. Carl Peter Thunberg was the first to collect this species in Japan in 1776 and subsequently validated its name. In 1779 David Nelson found it in Kamchatka and introduced it into cultivation in England in c. 1780, from where it was distributed to Paris and, possibly, Berlin. Because of its variability, R. rugosa caused some taxonomic confusion, received several names and was repeatedly illustrated. It was collected again by Adelbert Chamisso in Kamchatka in 1816 and by Philipp Franz von Siebold in Japan, from where Siebold introduced this rose for a second time to cultivation in the Netherlands in c. 1840. Multiple later introductions from Japan by Johann Carl Maximowicz and others followed. First escapes from cultivation are documented in the Netherlands in 1918, while the actual invasion started in the twentieth century. Importantly, the genetic data collected from the introduced populations in Europe confirm their Japanese origin. This paper analyses the sequence of historic events, clarifies the numerous independent taxonomic redescriptions and offers a taxonomic synopsis including the typification of the names involved. Citation: Lack H. W. Compton J. A. Callmander M. W. & Schoenenberger N. 2026: The discovery of the highly invasive Rosa rugosa (Rosaceae) and its introduction into cultivation in Europe. – Willdenowia 56: 397–417. Version of record first published online on 31 August 2026.

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