Baldhip Rose
Scientific Name: Rosa gymnocarpa
Category: plant
Brief Description
A native deciduous shrub with small pink flowers and bright red fruits, common in the Pacific Northwest.
Characteristics
Slender, prickly stems with many fine, straight bristles. Pinnately compound leaves with 5-9 small, serrated leaflets. Small pink to rose-colored flowers with five petals and yellow centers. Known for 'bald' hips where the sepals fall off early.
Habitat
Open or shaded woods, thickets, and forest edges. Found from British Columbia to California and east to Montana.
When to Find It
Flowers bloom from May to July; red-orange hips appear in late summer and autumn.
Conservation Status
Common / Least Concern
Ecological Role
Provides high-quality nectar for pollinators like bees and butterflies. The hips are an important winter food source for birds and small mammals.
Easily Confused With
Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) and Woods' Rose (Rosa woodsii). Baldhip Rose is distinguished by its much smaller flowers, more numerous fine prickles, and sepals that drop off the fruit.
Observation Tips
Look for it in the understory of coniferous forests. Handle with care due to the density of fine, sharp bristles on the lower stems.
Interesting Facts
The species name 'gymnocarpa' refers to the fruit (hip) being naked or bald after the sepals drop. Native American groups historically used various parts of the plant for medicinal teas and the hips for food.
User Notes
At Doe Point campground Oregon