Himalayan Musk Rose Rosa brunonii 'La Mortola' (Ra)
ABOUT
The Rosa brunonii 'La Mortola', also known simply as the Himalayan Musk Rose, is cherished for its graceful and elegant appearance. This plant bears clusters of delicate, small flowers with a cream or light pink hue, sometimes described as almost white. The blooms are filled with a multitude of petals, imparting a soft and fluffy look much like tiny rosettes. Each flower exudes a pleasant and musky fragrance that can be a delight in any garden setting. The Himalayan Musk Rose displays long, slender stems that can either climb or trail, depending on the support provided. Along the stems are small, sharp prickles and leaves that are rich green in color. The foliage consists of leaflets arranged on either side of a central stem, giving it a feathered or pinnate appearance. When in full bloom, the Himalayan Musk Rose presents a spectacular cascade of flowers that can add a romantic ambience to its surroundings. While its tendency to climb gives it a versatile role in landscape design, its trailing nature also allows it to be an enchanting ground cover. With proper care, the Himalayan Musk Rose can become a standout feature, alluring onlookers with its bountiful blossoms and sweet perfume.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Rosaceae
Synonyms
Himalayan Musk Rose, Himalayan Rose, La Mortola Rose
Common names
Rosa brunonii 'La Mortola', Rosa moschata 'La Mortola', Rosa moschata Herrm. var. brunonii.
ToxicityTo humans
Himalayan Musk Rose is generally not considered toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of this plant, including leaves, petals, or hips, typically does not lead to poisoning or produce harmful effects. However, as with many plants, individual allergies or sensitivities could occur, and it's always a good practice to avoid eating plant parts unless they are known to be edible and you have properly identified the plant.
To pets
Himalayan Musk Rose isn't known to be toxic to pets either. Dogs, cats, and other domestic animals can occasionally chew on the leaves or flowers without serious risk of poisoning. As always, monitoring your pets and preventing them from ingesting large quantities of any non-food plant is wise, as it could potentially cause gastrointestinal upset or an allergic reaction.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
15-20 feet [4.6-6 meters]
Spread
10-15 feet [3-4.6 meters]
Plant type
Climber
Hardiness zones
6
Native area
Himalayas
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: The Himalayan Musk Rose 'La Mortola' enhances gardens with its abundant creamy-white flowers and musk fragrance.
- Habitat Enrichment: It provides shelter and habitat to various birds and beneficial insects.
- Pollinator Attraction: Its flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, contributing to pollination in the garden.
- Erosion Control: With its dense growth, it can help stabilize slopes and prevent soil erosion.
- Privacy Screening: Can be used to create natural barriers for privacy due to its thick foliage.
- Architectural Landscaping: Ideal for creating archways, trellises, and pergolas due to its climbing nature.
- Seasonal Interest: Offers seasonal interest with its flowers in spring and summer and attractive foliage.
- Hardiness: It is a robust plant that can tolerate a range of soil conditions and climates.
- Low Maintenance: Once established, it requires minimal care apart from regular pruning to maintain shape.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Crafting natural dyes: The petals of the Himalayan Musk Rose can be used to create subtle, natural dyes for fabrics or artisanal paper products.
- Floral arrangements: Due to its abundant and fragrant blooms, Himalayan Musk Rose is often used in floral arrangements and wedding bouquets.
- Perfume production: The strong, pleasant scent of the rose's flowers makes it suitable for use in the production of perfumes and scented oils.
- Edible petals: The petals of the Himalayan Musk Rose are edible and can be used in salads, desserts, or as garnishes for a touch of elegance in culinary presentations.
- Rose water: The fragrant petals can be distilled to make rose water, a flavor enhancer in Middle Eastern, Indian, and Persian cuisine.
- Cooking ingredient: Rose petals from the Himalayan Musk Rose can be infused into jams, syrups, or sweet spreads for a floral hint of flavor.
- Aromatherapy: The essential oil derived from the rose can be used in aromatherapy for its supposed calming and mood-enhancing properties.
- Botanical art: Pressed or dried Himalayan Musk Rose flowers can be used in botanical illustrations or as a natural element in craft projects like homemade soaps or candles.
- Gardening: Being a climbing species, the Himalayan Musk Rose can be used to cover walls, trellises, or arbors, providing an aesthetically pleasing, natural green screen.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried petals of the rose make for biodegradable and eco-friendly confetti for celebrations like weddings.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Himalayan Musk Rose is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Himalayan Musk Rose is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Love: As a member of the rose family, 'La Mortola' symbolizes deep love and affection. The enduring beauty of roses is often associated with the timeless nature of love.
- Beauty: The Rose 'La Mortola' is a symbol of beauty, reflecting the exquisite and captivating aesthetic of its blooms.
- Secrets: Roses have been linked to secrecy; the term "sub rosa" (under the rose) implies confidentiality, and giving a rose like 'La Mortola' might hint at a secret being kept.
- Balance: The harmonious growth habit and form of 'La Mortola' can symbolize balance and harmony, suggesting a sense of stability and equilibrium.
WaterThe Himalayan Musk Rose requires consistent moisture, so it should be watered deeply and thoroughly once a week during its growing season, ensuring that the soil is moist but not over-saturated. During hot and dry periods, increase watering frequency to twice a week. Each watering session should involve 1 to 2 gallons of water, depending on the size of the plant and the weather conditions. In winter or during periods of heavy rain, reduce the watering volume and frequency to prevent root rot.
LightHimalayan Musk Roses thrive in full sun to partial shade. They perform best when planted in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Though they can tolerate some light shade, too much shade will reduce flowering and can cause the plant to become leggy.
TemperatureHimalayan Musk Roses are robust and tolerate a range of temperatures, but they flourish in conditions ranging from 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive minimum temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but frost can damage new growth, so protection may be necessary in colder zones.
PruningPrune Himalayan Musk Roses to maintain their shape, remove dead wood, and encourage vigorous growth. The best time for pruning is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Prune lightly, as this rose blooms on old wood; over-pruning can reduce the number of flowers. Remove any dead or damaged branches and thin out the plant to ensure good air circulation.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe Himalayan Musk Rose requires well-drained, fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0. A mix of loam, peat moss, and sand in equal parts is ideal to ensure good drainage and aeration.
RepottingHimalayan Musk Roses planted in containers may need repotting every 2 to 3 years to ensure they have enough space for root growth and to replenish nutrients in the soil.
Humidity & MistingHimalayan Musk Roses thrive in average humidity levels found outdoors; they do not require any special humidity considerations when grown in their natural environment.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Provide bright light, prune for shape, fertilize regularly.
Outdoor
Full sun, well-drained soil, water deeply, mulch base.
Hardiness zone
7-9 USDA
Life cycleThe climbing Himalayan Musk Rose (Rosa brunonii 'La Mortola') typically begins its life cycle as a dormant seed, which will germinate under optimal conditions of warmth and moisture. After germination, the seedling will develop a root system and shoots that emerge above the soil, leading to the establishment of a young plant. As it matures, the plant enters a vegetative stage, continuously growing foliage and long, arching canes capable of climbing structures or spreading along the ground. Once it reaches maturity, usually within a few years, it will begin its reproductive phase, producing abundant fragrant white flowers in late spring to early summer, often followed by red to orange rose hips (seed pods) in the fall. The plant will then enter a period of dormancy in colder climates during the winter months. This seasonal cycle of flowering and dormancy will repeat annually throughout the rose's lifespan, which, with proper care, can be several decades.
PropogationPropogation time
Early spring
The most favored method of propagating Rosa brunonii 'La Mortola', commonly known as the Himalayan Musk Rose, is by softwood cuttings. This process usually takes place in late spring to early summer when new growth is mature enough to be pliable but still green. Gardeners typically cut a section of stem about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) long, strip the lower leaves, and dip the cut end in rooting hormone to increase the chances of success. The prepared cutting is then inserted into a pot filled with a mixture of sand and peat or a well-draining potting mix, ensuring that at least two nodes are buried where leaves were removed. The cutting should be kept in a warm, humid environment with indirect light and the medium consistently moist until roots have developed, which usually occurs within several weeks.
