Overview
A small, slender, deciduous shrub in the family Rosaceae, native to dry to moist conifer forest understories, forest edges, and open woodlands from British Columbia south through Washington and Oregon to California — the smallest native rose of the Pacific Northwest and the only native PNW rose of deeply shaded forest interiors. The specific epithet gymnocarpa means 'naked fruit,' referring to the most diagnostic identification feature: the sepals fall off the hip early, before it fully ripens, leaving a smooth, 'bald' hip top — unique among native PNW roses, which all retain their sepals on ripe hips. Plants grow 1–5 feet (0.3–1.5 m) tall with slender stems armed with numerous fine, straight, needle-like prickles 1–3 mm long and, unlike most other native roses, no stout paired infrastipular spines. The pinnately compound leaves bear 5–9 small, hairless leaflets 0.5–1.5 inches (1.5–4 cm) long with doubly serrated margins. From May through July, the branch tips produce fragrant, solitary (rarely paired) pink to pale pink flowers 0.6–1 inch (15–25 mm) across with 5 petals. The hips ripen to small, oval to egg-shaped, red-orange fruits 0.3–0.5 inch (8–12 mm) long by August–September. Non-toxic; hips edible and vitamin C-rich. Please review for consolidation.
Native Range
Native to dry to moist conifer forest understories, forest edges, and open woodlands from British Columbia south through Washington and Oregon to California.Suggested Uses
Planted as a small woodland understory shrub in Pacific Northwest shade gardens and native forest plantings at 2–3 foot (0.6–0.9 m) spacing — the only native PNW rose suited to dry conifer forest interior. The fragrant May–July flowers and small red-orange bald hips provide wildlife value in shaded settings. Of educational value for demonstrating deciduous sepal character (gymnocarpa = 'naked fruit') as a diagnostic feature within Rosa, and for native rose identification comparison with R. nutkana and R. pisocarpa.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 5'
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years
Bloom Information
Blooms May through July for 4–6 weeks, producing fragrant, solitary or rarely paired, pink to pale pink five-petaled flowers 0.6–1 inch (15–25 mm) across. Attracts native bees and other pollinators. Small, smooth, oval red-orange hips ripen August–September with the diagnostic bald (sepal-less) top; consumed by birds and small mammals through fall and winter.Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to pale pink; fragrant solitary five-petaled 0.6–1 inch; May–July; DIAGNOSTIC: BALD HIPS — sepals drop before hip ripens (gymnocarpa = 'naked fruit'); small oval red-orange hips 0.3–0.5 inch Aug–SeptFoliage Description
medium green; pinnately compound with 5–9 small hairless leaflets 0.5–1.5 inches with doubly serrated margins; slender stems with fine needle-like prickles 1–3 mm — no stout paired infrastipular prickles; only native PNW rose of deep forest shadeGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in partial to full shade in well-drained to average, acidic to neutral soil with a pH of 5.0–7.0. The only native PNW rose tolerating deep forest shade — uniquely suited to dry to moist conifer forest understory. More drought-tolerant in shade than other native roses. Spreads slowly by root sprouts. No fertilizer needed.Pruning
Remove oldest canes to the base every few years in late winter to maintain vigor. Remove root sprouts to manage spread. Fine needle-like prickles — use gloves when handling.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
early spring