[Wild Roses: The Genus Rosa East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Dog Rose

Rosa canina

Synonyms: Rosa canina var. dumetorum, Rosa corymbifera

Close-up of the flower of dog rose as seen near the western trailhead for the Twin Tunnels Trail, Hood River, Oregon...........May 27, 2012.

Characteristics:

1. Woody shrub with moderately large 5-petaled pink or white flowers. The flowers are often solitary or in small clusters. Blooms in May.

2. Leaves with 5-7 pinnately compound leaflets. The leaflets are ovate and with sharply toothed margins. Leaflets may be up to 4 cm long and 2.5 cm wide.

3. Numerous curved prickles on the stems.

4. Flowers form round to ovoid red hips. The hips and flowers are usually solitary or in clusters.

Habitat:

An escaped domestic plant from Eurasia, found naturalized in thickets and along roadsides at low elevations west of the Cascade Mts, and in northern Idaho. Some plants may be found east of Portland, OR along Marine Drive and along the road at Lewis and Clark Park.

Range:

In Oregon and Washington, dog rose may be found primarily west of the Cascade Mts. It may also be found in northern Idaho, and in the eastern U.S..

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may occasionally be found between the elevations of 100'-2000' from the western entrance to the gorge to as far east as Lyle, WA..

Uses:

1. Dried flower petals for scents, potpourri .

2. Rose hips are high in vitamin C, may be made into jam, tea, and used as flavoring.

3. This is an escaped domestic plant.

Additional close-up photos of the flowers, leaves and prickles of dog rose as seen near the western trailhead for the Twin Tunnels Trail, Hood River, Oregon...........May 27, 2012.

Paul Slichter