Description

Key Information:

Soil: Mesic (Medium) – Xeric (Dry)
Sun: Full Sun – Part Sun
Height: 2-5 feet
Bloom Color: Pink
Bloom Season: June – August

More Details:

Suggested Uses: Smooth Rose is a very hardy shrub that is great for naturalized areas and large gardens. It is differentiated from Rosa arkansana (Prairie Rose) by the lack of prickles on new growth. Don’t let this fool you, these plants are still quite prickly! Taller height and more persistent woody growth also distinguish these species. (The above-ground woody growth of Rosa arkansana only persists for a few years before being replaced by new growth.) Both species have similar ranges in Minnesota but Rosa arkansana is more likely to be found on dry prairies.

Native Range: Native to the Upper Midwest and the Northeast. Native throughout the state of Minnesota.

Pollinators: Bees, including the federally endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis). Birds are attracted to the berries.

Flowers:  5 petaled, pink flowers with many yellow stamens. There are typically 1-4 flowers per plant.

Leaves: Alternate, compound, and have serrated edges.

Other Names: Early Wild Rose

More information: USDA plant profile

Photo Credit: Flickr User gmayfield10