Description

This little rose is usually encountered on trail sides regularly mowed by trail crews to maintain a fire break. It also commonly appears in areas recently burned. One can imagine that this diminutive rose would have a difficult time competing as the landscape matures. The ground rose grows as an expanding patch of open stems with dark glandular leaves and finely bristled stems. The spring flowers are a predictable carnation pink. The rose hips are bright red, though rarely seen in a natural setting where they are quickly consumed. Ground rose is adaptable, only requiring a planting site where it will be kept fairly dry and not be smothered by its neighbors. Like all our native roses, ground rose is winter deciduous.