The Southern Agriculturist and Register of Rural Affairs 4(12): 617-622 (Dec 1831)

Art. I.—Some observations on the culture of the Cherokee or Nondescript Rose, as a hedge plant:
selected from the unpublished manuscripts of the late Stephen Elliott. June 8th, 1814.

The history of this plant is obscure. It was cultivated before the revolution by the late Nathaniel Hall, Esq. at his plantation, near Savannah river, and having been obtained from thence and propagated as an ornamental plant in the garden of Mr. Telfair, and the Mr. Gibbons' of Sharon and Beach Hill, under the name of the "Cherokee Rose," it is probable that it was originally brought down from our mountains by some of the Indian traders. Michaux met with it in the gardens in Georgia, and perceiving that it was an undescribed plant, he introduced it into the gardens near Charleston as an Nondescript Rose. Hence it has obtained in that neighbourhood the popular but absurd name of the "Nondescript." In Georgia, it has always retained the name of Cherokee Rose.

In the year 1796, I obtained a few of these plants and placed them accidentally at no great distance from each other on a straight border of my garden. About two years afterwards the garden was destroyed and thrown into pasture and the plants entirely exposed. I afterwards removed from the plantation, and for a few years it was uncultivated. In 1802, the plants had already formed a substantial hedge, their long flexible branches falling to the ground and taking root extended themselves on every side. They soon met, and intermingling their thorny limbs formed a barrier which no quadruped could break, and which I believe no bird can penetrate.

† Rosa Sepiaria? Caule aculeato, decumbente foliolis ternatis, (rarissime quinatis) foliolis lanceolatis, acutis, serratis, coriaceis, glaber, dimis, lucidis, perennantibus, floribus solitariis albis calyce hispido, laciuiis, lanceolatis longe acuminalis inequalibus duobus apice foliaceis serretis.

[Elliott did not mention the family connections in the early distribution of this rose. The "Gibbons' of Sharon and Beach Hill" were William and Barrack. Their sister, Ann (or Nancy) was married to Hall. And William's daughter, Sarah, was the wife of Gov. Edward Telfair. In addition, Telfair owned the principal commercial houses in Georgia dealing largely in European and East Indian goods.

Edward Telfair moved to Georgia because his brother, William, was established there as a merchant by 1766.]

A sketch of the botany of South Carolina and Georgia, vol. 1, pp. 566-567 (1821)

Stephen Elliott

8 LAEVIGATA. Mich.
R. fructibus oblongis, hispidis; follis perennantibus, ternatis; foliolis lanceolatis, serratis, coriaceis, lucidis; floribus solitariis, terminalibus. E

Fruit oblong, hispid; leaves perennial, ternate; leaflets lanceolate, serrate, coriaceous, lucid; flowers solitary, terminal.

Mich. 1. p. 295. Pursh, 1. p. 345.

A shrub, with long flexible branches, which may be trained to 10, 15 or 20 feet high, but when left unsupported fall to the earth and take root; branches glabrous, and armed with very strong recurved prickles. Leaves very glossy and smooth, prickly along the under side of the midrib, very rarely quinate. Flowers on small lateral branches. Segments of the calyx unequal, all acuminate, leaflike at the summit, serrate. Petals white, obovate, obtuse, with a point irregularly crenulate.

This plant in its habit and appearance has very little resemblance to its congeners. It has been cultivated in the gardens in Georgia for upwards of 40 years, under the name of the "Cherokee Rose," but its origin is still obscure.

In our rural economy this plant will one day become very important. For the purpose of forming hedges, there is perhaps no plant which unites so many advantages. For quickness of growth, facility of culture, strength, durability and beauty, it has perhaps no rival.

Grows in moist soils, preferring close, rich loam.

Flowers April, principally, but occasionally through the summer.