Wood Rose
Scientific Name: Rosa gymnocarpa
Category: plant
Brief Description
A wild, prickly deciduous shrub known for its pink five-petaled flowers and bright red fruits (hips).
Characteristics
Five bright pink petals, a center of yellow stamens, pinnately compound leaves with serrated edges, and stems covered in fine, straight prickles. Its fruit is a small, elongated red hip.
Habitat
Found in shady or open forests, thickets, and woodland edges; common in the understory of coniferous forests.
When to Find It
Flowers typically bloom from late spring through mid-summer (May to July).
Conservation Status
Least Concern / Secure
Ecological Role
Provides nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies, while the hips serve as an important winter food source for birds and small mammals.
Easily Confused With
Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) which generally has larger flowers and stouter, curved thorns compared to the Wood Rose's small flowers and fine prickles.
Observation Tips
Look for it in dappled sunlight under forest canopies. Be careful when handling as the stems are covered in numerous sharp prickles.
Interesting Facts
Unlike many other wild roses, the sepals of the wood rose fall off as the fruit (hip) ripens, leaving the hip naked at the top, which earned it the species name 'gymnocarpa' meaning 'naked fruit'.