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Woods' Rose

Rosa woodsii

Also known as Western Wild Rose, Prairie Rose

shrub☀️ full sun💧 low water❄ Hardy: Zone 2b – Zone 9b

Climate Match for your location

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A native wild rose with fragrant pink flowers and small red hips in fall. Extremely hardy and drought-tolerant once established, requiring minimal maintenance.

Why grow it

Woods' rose outperforms many ornamental rose varieties in cold climates and semi-arid regions where water availability is limited. Unlike hybrid tea roses or floribunda types, it requires no fertilizer, fungicide sprays, or winter protection in most temperate and northern zones, making it a lower-input choice for naturalized plantings, hedgerows, or wildlife corridors. The species also produces abundant hips, which retain nutritional and aesthetic value through winter.

Watch out for

While hardy, young plants benefit from occasional deep watering during their first season to establish deeper roots; withholding water entirely can slow establishment. The plant spreads via underground rhizomes and may expand beyond its intended footprint in moist soils, so consider planting it where lateral spread is either welcome or manageable with periodic pruning.

Overview

Form
Spreading
Growth Rate
moderate
Size
3–3′ tall × 4–8′ wide
Dormancy
deciduous
Family
Rosaceae
Erosion controlHedgerowMedicinalPollinators & beneficial insectsEdible

Native to the United States

Native Range

Western North America

Native to: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Seasonality

Bloom Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Harvest Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Edible Parts

fruitflower

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

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Companion Planting

Avoid near