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Species roses are, as the name implies, wild species and their cultivars that are not greatly hybridized. There are around 150 species of roses native to the northern hemisphere and often there is quite a lot of variation within species. These roses are the ancestors of all garden roses. The species that are most widely grown here in Iceland are Rosa pimpinellifolia,  Rosa rugosa, Rosa pendulina, Rosa moyesii and Rosa sweginzowii.   R. pimpinellfolia and Rosa dumalis are rare natives to Iceland and are both protected species. Neither is a good garden plant.  

Rosa amblyotis with pink flowers
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Labradorrós Rósa blanda Tarja Halonenedi
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Rose 'Fenja' with candy pink, single flowers with a white center
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Rosa foetida 'Bicolor' with dark orange, single flowers
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Rosa glauca, with small, pink, single flowers
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Rosa helenae 'Hybrida' with butter yellow flowers
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single pink flower of Rosa majalis
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single red flowers of Rosa moyesii
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Rose 'Dart's Defender' with glossy green foliage and semi-double, reddish purple flower
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single pink flower of Rosa nutkana
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Fuchsia pink, single flower of Rosa pendulina
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single, white flowers of Rosa pimpinellifolia 'Katrín Viðar'
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Rosa rubiginosa 'Foilie Bleu' with blue-green foliage and single, pink flowers
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single, white flowers of Rosa rugosa 'Alba'
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Rosa sweginzowii with dark pink flowers
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Double, pink flowers of Rose 'Hurdal'
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Lavender-pink flowers of Rosa willmottiae
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single, dark pink flowers of Rosa x highdownensis
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single, white flowers of Rosa x richardii
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Double, pink flowers of rose 'Yndisrós'
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

Single, pale yellow flowers of Rosa xanthina
Gallicas
 

Gallica roses form dense shrubs, with coarse, bright green leaves. The flowers can be single or double in colours ranging from white to dark burgundy and purple. Cultivars with single flowers are sometimes mor hardy than the ones with double flowers. They all need a sheltered position in the garden. 

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