Prickly Wild Rose
Rosa acicularis
Also known as Wild Prickly Rose, Prickly Rose, Bristly Rose
Climate Match for your location
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A hardy native shrub rose producing fragrant pink flowers followed by bright red hips that persist into winter. Extremely cold-hardy and drought-tolerant once established, with prickly stems and fine foliage.
Why grow it
Rosa acicularis offers exceptional cold hardiness and drought tolerance compared to most ornamental roses, making it suitable for northern climates and water-limited sites where tender cultivars struggle. The persistent hips provide winter interest and wildlife food value beyond the blooming period, while the fragrant flowers attract pollinators during the growing season. As a native species in many northern regions, it integrates well into ecological landscaping and requires minimal fertilizer or pest management once established.
Watch out for
The dense prickles make this shrub uncomfortable to prune or handle without protective gloves and long sleeves. In areas where it is not native, it can self-seed prolifically if hips are not removed, so deadheading or monitoring volunteer seedlings may be necessary depending on your site management goals.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern North America, Eastern Asia
Native to: Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
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
- Propagation
A hardy native shrub rose producing fragrant pink flowers followed by bright red hips that persist into winter. Extremely cold-hardy and drought-tolerant once established, with prickly stems and fine foliage.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Prickly 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 acicularis offers exceptional cold hardiness and drought tolerance compared to most ornamental roses, making it suitable for northern climates and water-limited sites where tender cultivars struggle. The persistent hips provide winter interest and wildlife food value beyond the blooming period, while the fragrant flowers attract pollinators during the growing season. As a native species in many northern regions, it integrates well into ecological landscaping and requires minimal fertilizer or pest management once established.
Watch out for
The dense prickles make this shrub uncomfortable to prune or handle without protective gloves and long sleeves. In areas where it is not native, it can self-seed prolifically if hips are not removed, so deadheading or monitoring volunteer seedlings may be necessary depending on your site management goals.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Northern North America, Eastern Asia
Native to: Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
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
- Propagation
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