[Roses: The Genus Rosa West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]
Bristly Nootka Rose, Bristly Rose
Rosa nutkana var. hispida
Synonyms: Rosa anatonensis, Rosa caeruleimontana, Rosa columbiana, Rosa jonesii, Rosa macdougalii, Rosa megalantha, Rosa nutkana ssp. macdougalii, Rosa nutkana var. alta, Rosa nutkana var. hispida, Rosa nutkana var. macdougalii, Rosa nutkana var. pallida, Rosa rainierensis, Rosa spaldingii, Rosa spaldingii var. alta, Rosa spaldingii var. chelanensis, Rosa spaldingii var. hispida, Rosa spaldingii var. parkeri, Rosa spaldingii var. spaldingii
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The photo at left shows a Nootka rose in bloom at the Sandy River Delta northeast of Troutdale, OR......May 16, 2023. A few teeth on the leaflets are double toothed, but most appeared to be single-toothed. The photo at right shows Nootka rose as seen
at about 3000' along forest road K6000 just above Hell Roaring Ditch at the
southeastern side of Mt. Adams..........June 19, 2005.
The photo at right shows the large flower
of the Nootka rose.
Characteristics:
The Nootka rose is an attractive shrub to 3 meters high. The stems are usually
green, but occasionally may be reddish. The stems grow straight and erect, and
are not intertwined as with the clustered wild rose. The prickles are curved
backward and found in pairs below the stipules or leaf petioles. The prickles
of this species are larger and thicker than those of the other native rose species.
The leaves are alternate on the stems and they are pinnately compound with
5-7 leaflets. The leaflets are dark green above and paler and slightly hairy
below. The leaflets are elliptic or ovate in shape with serrate or doubly serrate
margins, and range from 1-7 cm long and 0.7-4.5 cm wide.
The pink or rose-colored flowers are usually solitary, although 2-3 may be
found at the ends of newer, prickleless side branches. The flowers are large
sweetly scented, and showy, ranging from 5-8 cm across. Individual petals are
2.5-4 cm long, and 5 petals are the norm for the flowers. The rose hips are
spherical, orange -red and large, ranging from 1-2 cm wide. The sepals and dried
stamens remain attached to the tips.
Importance:
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. The Nootka wild rose may be used as a hedgerow or as an ornamental.
4. Native Americans mashed the leaves together and made a poultice for application
to sore eyes, abscesses, and bee stings.
5. The fruits are an important food source by various herbivores and upland
game birds. The leaves and twigs are eaten by numerous browsers, and rose
thickets provide excellent nesting and escape habitat for songbirds.
Fruit or rose hip
of the Nootka rose shown in the photo at right. Note the sepals which persist
on the hip.
Habitat:
Nootka rose may be found in open upland woods or in open shrub wetlands. In
areas where both Rosa nutkana and Rosa woodsii occur, the former
may be found at higher elevations and often in woods.
Range:
Nootka rose may be found from Alaska south through British Columbia and west
of the Cascades through Washington and Oregon to northern California. It may
be found in northern Oregon to the Blue Mts, and in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado
and Utah.
Paul Slichter