Wood’s Rose
Rosa woodsii
Family Rosaceae
Sprawling, spreading deciduous shrub typically reaching 5’ high (though can reach higher if climbing objects or other plants), spreading 10+’. Rosa arizonica is now considered Rosa woodsii var. ultramontana, and Rosa fendleri is Rosa woodsii var. fendleri. Both are very similar. Flowers are pink, occurring in spring into summer . Rose hips follow the flowers.
Best in morning sun, afternoon shade, moderate to regular water, hardy to -30°F.
Flowers are loved by butterflies, bees, and other nectar-lovers. Rose hips are consumed by humans, birds, and other animals. Moth larval food plant for Cleft headed looper moth (Biston betularia), a few tortrix moths (family Tortricidae), and Pyralid moths (subfamily Pyralidae).
The hips are a good source of vitamin C and are made into jelly and syrup and the roots make an orange dye. A poultice of various plant parts may be used for burns, boils, sores, cuts, and wounds. Branches have many ceremonial uses, and stems are used for basketry rims.
Wordwide there are 405 species of Rosa. Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and Northwest Africa. In Arizona there are 2 species of Rosa, in California there are 13 species, Nevada has 2 species, New Mexico has 8 species, Texas has 12 species, Utah has 5 species.
The genus, Rosa, is derived from the Latin word for rose and has a rich history and remains prominently used in modern times. Its origin can be traced back to ancient Rome, where the rose held great cultural significance. The species, woodsii, is named for Joseph Woods, 1776-1864, an early English student of roses.
Found along streams, in moist habitats, open ponderosa pine forests, slopes from 5,500-9,000 ft. throughout the western and midwestern states in the U.S., scattered throughout Canada and Alaska, and south into northern Mexico.
Desert Rose (Rosa stellata) is a smaller species. grows on dry rocky places to 6500 feet in the mountain canyons of the Trans-Pecos and into Arizona and New Mexico. It can be identified by its trifoliate leaves, deep rose purple blossoms and yellowish white prickles on stems and petioles. Photo by Jeff Miller on iNaturalist
Prickly Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) is a native of New Mexico, is colony-forming and reaches about 6' tall. Photo by homeredwardprice on SEINET