A botanical plate from Les Roses (1817–1824), the definitive early nineteenth-century monograph on cultivated and wild roses, illustrated by Pierre-Joseph Redouté.

Scientific Name: Rosa Eglanteria

Identification: Sweet Briar, Eglantine Rose

Family: Rosaceae

Properties: Associated with wild fragrance, memory, and gentle protection, Rosa eglanteria was long cherished for its apple-scented foliage and simple, open blooms. In early botanical and pastoral traditions, it symbolized natural grace, emotional resilience, and the restorative presence of hedgerows and uncultivated landscapes. Its aromatic leaves were linked to comfort and remembrance, while its nourishing hips represented vitality, renewal, and quiet endurance. Less refined than garden roses yet deeply beloved, sweet briar embodied an untamed beauty rooted in scent, season, and the enduring rhythms of the natural world.