Eglantine is a poetic word for a fragrant wild rose, usually the sweet briar, though older poets sometimes used it for honeysuckle. Writers often choose it for its soft sound and romantic associations with scent, flowers, and summer landscapes.
Because the name has been used for different plants over time, its exact reference can depend on the poem and period.
Example
The eglantine climbed the gate at dusk,
its sweet scent drifting through the warm air,
while thorns caught softly at my sleeve.
[n] Eurasian rose with prickly stems and fragrant leaves and bright pink flowers followed by scarlet hips