WOODS' ROSE
(Rosa woodsii)
By Janice Tucker

Family: Rose (Rosaceae)
Common name: Woods' rose
Botanical name: (Rosa woodsii)

Wild roses are among the toughest and most beautiful flowering plants. The wild Woods' rose (Rosa woodsii) is native to New Mexico and the Western United States. It is often found at elevations from 3500 to 7500 feet, growing wild in open wooded areas, among rock crevices, along streambeds, and in open fields. Imagine the delight of a hiker who comes upon a shrub blooming profusely with pink roses.

This deciduous shrub rose grows between 3 to 6 feet in height with thorny, multi-stemmed branches. Leaves are medium to dark green, alternate and pinnately compound with five to nine serrated leaflets.

Small, fragrant flowers grow in clusters, each flower measuring 2 to 2 ½ inches across. They burst into bloom from glossy, red buds into full flowers ranging from light to deep shades of pink with bright yellow centers. These single roses have five petals, five sepals and many stamens. Blossoms usually last only one day but the shrub blooms prolifically, offering continuous flowers throughout June and July.

Rose hips (fruit) mature to a bright red in August and retain their brilliant color through winter. Fall foliage combined with the red hips offers a spectacular show of color in shades of yellow, red and orange.

The Woods' rose, named for architect, botanist and rosarian Joseph Woods, is hardy to Zone 4. Because it requires little extra water, pruning or pest control, its demands are few, and its rewards are many – a gardener’s dream. As with most wild roses, it does send up suckers, which can be a challenge to the home gardener who wants to keep this plant contained – and the thorny stems make gardening gloves a necessity when working on or around this rose. If suckers are left unattended, a dense, thicket will form. This thicket with its foliage, hips and thorny branches will provide food and a protected habitat for small mammals and birds.

The Woods' rose grows in a wide range of soil types and textures, but generally prefers a moderately fertile, moist, well-drained clay loam, sandy loam or sandy soil but will tolerate moderately acidic soils. It prefers full sun or moderate shade. It is fire tolerant, producing many sprouts as proof of its will to survive. These re-vegetation characteristics and extensive rhizomes make it an excellent plant for erosion control.

In addition to offering food and shelter to small mammals and birds, the Woods' rose is browsed by livestock and big game from spring through fall. Europeans used the hips as a source of Vitamins A and C, with the hips pounded into powder and used as a flavoring for soups and syrups. Native Americans used young shoots as a potherb. Leaves were steeped for tea and petals eaten raw in salads or candied. Inner bark was smoked like tobacco and dried petals were stored for perfume.

Wild roses have been the inspiration of many poems and songs throughout history. What better symbol for lasting love than the wild Woods' rose?

Read about other species roses.

See all the Featured Plant selections.