Plant Detail

Rosa gymnocarpa (Dwarf Rose)

Dwarf Rose, Baldhip Rose, Wood Rose, Little Wild Rose, Wild Roses, Shrub Roses

Incredibly shade tolerant, Rosa gymnocarpa (Dwarf Rose) is a small deciduous shrub with slender stems studded with soft, bristly, straight prickles. Its branches are clothed with pinnately divided leaves with 5-7 leaflets. In mid to late spring, the shrub is covered with fragrant, flat and open-faced flowers adorned with five pale pink petals. Borne usually singly at the ends of the branches, they are followed by showy, bright red rose-hips that are high in vitamin C and are also a source of calcium, phosphorous, and iron. If left on the shrub, they will persist throughout the winter to the delight of hungry birds and small mammals. Long-lived, Dwarf Rose is rhizomatous and has a shallow root structure. It sprouts from the root crown and rhizomes, but does not spread as fully as other wild roses, remaining a slender shrub. Dwarf rose occurs predominantly in the low-shrub layer of moist, shaded forests of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest. An important year-round food source for mammals, birds, and insects, Dwarf Rose is most charming in a woodland garden.

  • Usually grows up to 3 ft. tall (90 cm), heights of 3 to 9 ft. (90-270 cm) have been reported.
  • Best grown in part shade to full shade, in moist to dry, well-drained soils. Will grow in full sunlight but has a higher survival rate in the shade. Rosa gymnocarpa tolerates clay soils.
  • Perfect for woodland gardens, wildlife gardens, or bird gardens.
  • Prune after flowering if needed.
  • Attractive to pollinating insects, butterflies and birds.
  • Do not remove spent flowers if you want to enjoy a beautiful crop of orange-red hips in fall and winter.
  • Propagate by seed. Seeds may take two years to germinate. The root crown and rhizomes may be divided.
  • Native to western North America.

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Requirement
Hardiness 5,6,7,8,9
Heat Zones 4,5,6,7
Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 1A, 3B
Plant Type Roses
Plant Family Aristolochiaceae
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring, Early Spring, Mid Spring, Late Spring
Height 2' - 3'
Spread 2' - 3'
Water Needs Average, High
Maintenance Low, Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries, Wet Soil Tolerant
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
Planting Place Beds and Borders, Edging, Patio and Containers, Small Gardens