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Woods' Rose
Scientific Name:
Rosa woodsii
Type:
Shrub
Habitat:
Riparian, wetlands, forests, and grasslands
Range:
Western North America
Status:
No listed status
This species is
NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
Woods' roses, a species of wild rose, vary in both color and size. These shrubs grow to around 5 feet tall and bloom from June until August. Once the flowers are pollinated, they produce red fruit called “hips” that last through the winter.
Fast Facts:
Rose hips are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, and can be used to make tea and jellies. Besides humans, rose hips are also a favorite food for northern mockingbirds. But be careful: rose hips contain small abrasive hairs that should be removed prior to using in recipes.
Roses are astringent, and can be used to tighten and tone the skin, which is why rose water is often sold as toners in stores.
Sources:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Rosa woodsii, 2015, https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=rowo
USDA Plant Guide, Woods' Rose, 2000, https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_rowo.pdf
California Native Plants Society, Woods' Rose, 2021, https://calscape.org/Rosa-woodsii-()
Image: Matt Lavin, https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/5065884599, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/, cropped from original.
Image: Stan Shebs, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_woodsii_3.jpg, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en, cropped from original.
Contributor(s):
Haley McGuire (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)