Rosa nutkana

Common Names

Nootka Rose, Bristly Nootka Rose, Wild Rose, Spalding Rose, Common Rose

Summary

Rosa nutkana, the Nootka Rose, is a native Pacific Northwest deciduous shrub that forms loose to dense thickets and typically reaches about 40–250 cm tall, occasionally taller, with prickly stems; leaves are pinnately compound with 5–9 leaflets, and flowers are large pink, fragrant, usually solitary at branch tips; after flowering, showy hips persist into winter. Native range extends from Alaska to northern California and east to Montana and northern New Mexico, occupying shorelines, floodplains, streambanks, meadows, open forests and forest edges. For cultivation, it tolerates sun to partial shade and a wide range of moisture from moist to dry, thriving in well-drained soils from clay to loam to sand; hardy to zones 5–9. Often grown as an ornamental hedge or informal screen and valued for erosion control and wildlife habitat; propagation is by seed or offsets, with seeds germinating slowly and stratification typically required, and pruning in winter helps control spread. Hips are edible and can be used in jams or jellies, and plant attracts pollinators including bees and butterflies.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-6.5 feet

Spread

3.5-6.5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade; tolerates Full Sun, Partial Shade, and Full Shade

Soil Type

No single ideal soil type; Rosa nutkana tolerates a wide range of soils.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

4.0-7.0

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Gray-green

Fall Foliage Color

Gold

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous, Semi-deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division (root crown and rhizomes), Layering (underground runners), Sprouts, Root suckers

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds