A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus Rosa, in the family Rosaceae, or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be erect shrubs, climbing, or trailing, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Their flowers vary in size and shape and are usually large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows and reds. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwestern Africa. Species, cultivars and hybrids are all widely grown for their beauty and often are fragrant. Roses have acquired cultural significance in many societies. Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach seven meters in height. Different species hybridize easily, and this has been used in the development of the wide range of garden roses.

Rosa henryi is a rose species native to China. The species is a climbing shrub, 3 to 8 m, with long repent branches. Prickles are absent or scattered, curved. Leaves are glabrous or sparsely glandular-pubescent with commonly 5 leaflets. The flowers appear in mid to late summer, 5 to 15 in an umbel-like corymb, each flower 3 to 4 cm in diameter, white, and fragrant. The hips are brownish red. It grows in forest margins, thickets or scrub, valleys or farmland at 1700 to 2000 m alt. Rosa henryi is grown as an ornamental plant for its beautiful flowers.