Rosa gymnocarpa

Habit: this rose grows as a bristly, slender stemmed, sparse shrub. Stems are gray-brown with leaves that are pinnately compound with 5-9 double serrated leaflets. Bald hip rose is rhizomatous with a shallow root structure. The fragrant flowers, having 5 light to dark pink petals about 1 in (2.5 cm) across, are terminal on branches in small clusters of 1-3. The fruit is a red-orange rose hip, differing from other roses in that the sepals are not persistent. Blooms from June to August.

Ecology: ranging from British Columbia south into California and inland to Montana, and found on both sides of the cascades in Oregon.  Preferring to grow in moist to dry shaded forests, stream banks and shrub lands from 100-6500 ft (30-2000 m).

Growing Conditions: full sun to partial shade, in well drained moist to semi dry soil, drought tolerant once established, able to grow in shady spots under conifers.

Rosa gymnocarpa is a good choice for wildlife, larger mammals browse the foliage, and birds enjoy eating the hips that persist into winter.