California Wild Rose
Rosa californica
Also listed as Rosa aldersonii, Rosa breweri
Also known as California Rose
Climate Match for your location
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A native California shrub rose producing fragrant pink flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by small red hips. Highly drought-tolerant and adaptable, it's excellent for dry gardens and wildlife habitat.
Why grow it
Rosa californica offers a native alternative to hybrid roses in water-limited regions, requiring minimal supplemental irrigation once established. Compared to many ornamental rose varieties, it tolerates poor soils and coastal conditions while supporting wildlife through its hips and dense structure, making it a practical choice for ecological landscaping. Its modest growth habit (3-6 feet) and suckering tendency suit it to hedgerow and erosion control applications where larger landscape roses would be excessive.
Watch out for
This species spreads readily by root suckers in favorable conditions, which can become difficult to manage in small spaces or mixed borders. It benefits from occasional thinning after flowering to maintain shape and reduce disease pressure in humid microclimates, though it generally requires little active management once settled into a site.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California coastal ranges and foothills
Native to: California, Oregon
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A native California shrub rose producing fragrant pink flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by small red hips. Highly drought-tolerant and adaptable, it's excellent for dry gardens and wildlife habitat.
Climate Match for your location
See how well California Wild Rose grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Rosa californica offers a native alternative to hybrid roses in water-limited regions, requiring minimal supplemental irrigation once established. Compared to many ornamental rose varieties, it tolerates poor soils and coastal conditions while supporting wildlife through its hips and dense structure, making it a practical choice for ecological landscaping. Its modest growth habit (3-6 feet) and suckering tendency suit it to hedgerow and erosion control applications where larger landscape roses would be excessive.
Watch out for
This species spreads readily by root suckers in favorable conditions, which can become difficult to manage in small spaces or mixed borders. It benefits from occasional thinning after flowering to maintain shape and reduce disease pressure in humid microclimates, though it generally requires little active management once settled into a site.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
California coastal ranges and foothills
Native to: California, Oregon
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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