Embark on a botanical challenge: Identify Wild Roses on the PNW with this Visual Guide

→ Identifying wild roses in the Pacific Northwest is crucial for ecological stewardship. This guide provides visual tools to differentiate between native species and invasive ones, ensuring the protection of our local ecosystem

Rose identification in the Pacific NW is an important area of knowledge that can be difficult to solidify - many of the wild roses look very similar and can be hard to tell apart.

As a plant enthusiast, I know the struggle. At first glance, the wild roses of our region can seem indistinguishable.

However, it’s essential to ID these different species for ecological stewardship, and it's our responsibility to recognize which roses to cherish and which to manage.

I felt overwhelmed by the sea of similar-looking roses in my own backyard, and couldn’t tell one from the other. Even plant ID apps would give me different results for the same plant.

That's when my inner plant nerd kicked in. I researched dozens of sources to create a precise spreadsheet. Now, this is my roadmap to the unique identifiers of each wild rose species.

Now, a once-confusing mix of petals and prickles is an open book to the flora that belongs—and those that don't.

In this visual guide, I share my PNW wild rose ID chart with you, along with the insights and images you need to become a skilled rose identifier.

By the end, you'll be able to protect the PNW's rich tapestry of life. Let's arm ourselves with knowledge (and maybe a few prickles) to preserve the wild roses that are meant to flourish in our cherished ecosystem.

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Key Features of Wild Roses in the PNW for Easy Identification

Rose Anatomy 101

• Prickles:
  What we commonly refer to as thorns are more accurately called prickles.
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• Rose Hips:
  The rose plant produces fruit, aka rose hips, after the flower blooms.
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• Bloom:
  Wild roses native to the PNW have 5 petals with a yellow-green center.
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• Sepals:
  Green leaf-like parts that cup the flower bud and then remain behind the bloom; can persist with the fruit.
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• Leaves:
  Leaves are compound, meaning that they have multiple small leaflets. Wild roses have an odd number of leaflets.
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• Serrated:
  Toothed edges of the wild rose leaflets, look like the teeth of a saw.
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• Stipule:
  This is a leaf-like part at the base of the leaf stem, typically long and thin (Wikipedia).
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• Glandular:
  What looks like small brown dots at the tip of leaf serrations or on the tip of fine hairs are actually glands (Peter Leonard).

Rose Hips: Nature's Ruby Gems

Did you know that roses produce fruit? Once the flower is done blooming, the petals will fall off and what remains will transition from a green orb-shape into the rose hip. Rose hips can be deep red, vermillion, or even purple-hued (Wikipedia).

Prickles vs. Thorns: A Rose's Defense

What we normally call the “thorns” of the rose plant are botanically called “prickles.”

What’s the difference between thorns and prickles? Thorns are like a very sharp stem. They are made from the same material as the twig it’s attached to.

Prickles, on the other hand, are made of a different material than the stem. Kind of like your finger and your nail. You can usually see a difference in color.

Prickles serve a couple of purposes for roses. The prickles deter (some) animals from eating the plant, and also act like built-in climbing picks to help the roses climb (Wikipedia, NYBG0).

Rose Species of the PNW Visual Identification Guide

Here is the sortable + interactive chart that I created to help me (and you!) to sort through the different characteristics of each rose species that is commonly seen in the Pacific Northwest - both native and invasive species.

Scroll through to see the main distinctions, including characteristics of leaves, hips, blooms, prickles, height, habitat, and location. You'll also see my citations towards the right on desktop.

Labeled Photo of Wild Rose Flowers

There is a range of bloom sizes for each rose species - none will be exactly the same of course.

In general, though:

• Smallest blooms: Rosa gymnocarpa (Dwarf) and Rosa pisocarpa (Cluster) have very small blooms
• Medium blooms: Rosa eglanteria (Sweetbriar) and Rosa multiflora (Multiflora) have medium sized blooms
• Large blooms: and Rosa canina (Dog) and Rosa woodsii (Woods') have large blooms
• Extra large blooms: The largest blooms are possible on Rosa nutkana (Nootka).

Other important traits of wild rose blooms:

• Petal count: They all have 5 petals
• Always white: Multiflora blooms will always be white
• White or pink: Dog rose, Sweetbriar rose and Nootka rose can be white but are usually pink
• Deep pink: Rugosa rose and Dwarf rose usually have a deep pink color
• Clusters: Woods' Rose is in clusters 1-5; Multiflora rose will be in clusters of 25-100; Cluster rose will usually be in clusters of 2-10 (Backyard Habitat, NWCB WA, UIdaho)

Rose Hip Identification

With rose hips, there are some key features to look at in order to identify which species you're looking at. For best results, cross-reference with the prickles, and leaves if still present.

Important traits of rose hips:

• Sepals: Dwarf is also known as Baldhip Rose because they loose their sepals quite early on in the season
• Late season sepals: Note that other rose hips can lose their sepals as the season progresses, especially Dog Rose
• Clusters: Cluster roses will have clusters of 2-9; Woods' will have clusters 1-5; Multiflora roses will have clusters of 25-100
• Sepal fringes: Sweetbriar rose hip sepals have a "feather-like" fringe on either side
• Wider hips: Rugosa and Nootka have hips wider than they are tall and they are quite large
• Round hips: Multiflora and Woods' are small and round; Cluster rose can also be small and round but sometimes are more pear-shaped
• Long hips: Sweetbriar, Dwarf, and Dog roses are often long and oval-shaped

(Backyard Habitat, Berkley 1, Berkley 2, Oregon.gov, NWCB WA, UIdaho)

Rose Prickle Differences

Rose prickles can be a key feature to help with wild rose identification.

As xx notes, for best results check the prickle shape and size on medium to small sized branches. This is because thorns tend to be difficult to distinguish on the main stalk of the plant.

In the Pacific Northwest, in general, native wild roses are straight, especially when examined on the younger branches (UIdaho).

In contrast, non-native roses are curved - except for the Rugosa rose. Rugosa rose does have some unique characteristics, like gravitating to ocean-side areas and a glossy-sheen on their leaves.

Common and Native Wild Rose Species

Dwarf Rose aka Baldhip Rose (Rosa gymnocarpa)

See my visual guide to the Baldhip Rose for more detailed information

• Habitat: Usually in forest or forest edge in shade
• Height: Usually under 4 ft tall, can reach 6 ft
• Blooms: Blooms are under 2” in diameter
• Prickles: Numerous, but fine and weak, always straight
• Fruit: Distinctive hips become “bald” due to sepals falling off early
• Leaflets: Small and rounded

(USDA FS, Backyard Habitats, UIdaho)

Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana)

Learn more: in-depth visual guide to help you identify Nootka Rose in the PNW

• Habitat: Usually on forest edges or part-shade
• Height: Up to 7 ft tall
• Blooms: Biggest bloom size of native roses, up to 3.5” across
• Prickles: normally straight, especially on young branches; can curve when they are larger; biggest prickle size of native roses
• Fruit: Hips are usually large, wider than tall, with long sepals that persist into winter
• Leaflets: Can have fine hairs and be glandular

(USDA FS, Backyard Habitats, Berkley, iNaturalist, UIdaho)

Cluster Rose aka Pea-fruit Rose (Rosa pisocarpa)

Dive deeper into the visual characteristics of Cluster Rose

• Habitat: Usually west of the Cascades, although not always, often in wet soil
• Height: Up to 9 ft
• Blooms: Blooms in clusters, but usually less than 9; blooms are pink and smaller than Nootka‍
• Prickles: Medium-sized straight prickles‍
• Fruit: Hips are pea-shaped with short fragile sepals

(Backyard Habitats, WNPS, VATech, Berkley

Woods’ Rose (Rosa woodsii)

• Habitat: Found east of the Cascades, not west; likes well-drained soil
• Height: Up to 10 ft tall
• Blooms: Can be single or in small clusters; flowers can be white to deep pink
• Prickles: Usually straight to slightly curved and thin
• Fruit: Rose hips are smooth with long-lasting sepals
• Leaflets: Can have fine hairs with a more curved tip and base than other species; stipules can have gland-tipped teeth

(USDA FS, Backyard Habitats, Berkley1, Berkley2, MN Wildflowers, UIdaho)

Common Non-native Species in the PNW

While not native, it is also common to spot two other wild roses in the Pacific Northwest:

Dog Rose (Rosa canina)

• Habitat: Full Sun
• Height: Up to 9 ft tall
• Blooms: Usually pink but can be white
• Prickles: Distinctive curved prickles
• Fruit: Sepals are free of hairs, hips are smooth
• Leaflets: Smooth and hairless

(Columbia River Gorge Wildflowers, Oregon.gov, UIdaho)

Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa eglanteria / Rosa rubiginosa)

• Habitat: Full sun
• Height: Up to 8 ft tall
• Blooms: Usually pink but can be white; sepals have hairs along edges
• Prickles: Curved
• Fruit: Orange-red, smaller, sepals persist with feathering edges‍
• Leaflets: Have a sweet apple-like scent to them when crushed; leaflets have fine hairs on the underside

(OSU, Oregon.gov, UIdaho)

Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)

• Habitat: Called Salt Spray Rose or Beach Tomato due to tolerance for salt water
• Height: 4-6 ft tall
• Blooms: Always pink
• Fruit: Rose hips are large in size
• Prickles: Large and straight
• Leaflets: have a glossy/waxy look to them, very pointed at ends

(MI Botanical Garden, VA Tech, iNaturalist)

Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)

• Habitat: Disturbed areas, but very adaptable
• Height: Can be quite tall, up to 13 ft, tallest of species discussed in this article
• Blooms: Blooms always white; clusters of 25-100 blooms or hips
• Fruit: Numerous small round hips
• Prickles: Curved
• Leaflets: Hairy stipules

(FPDCC, UIdaho, MDA, NWCB)

Cross-Breeding Challenges in Wild Rose ID

One caveat with identifying wild roses is their ability to crossbreed. This creates hybrids that display characteristics of both parent species.

According to the USDA, Nootka rose can cross with Woods’ rose and Baldhip rose. The Clustered Wild Rose can hybridize with the Nootka Rose, so this can make it difficult to distinguish these two specifically (Faurot, PT).

University of Idaho notes that while its common for roses to cross with each other, there’s been no documented cases of native roses and invasive roses hybridizing together.

Ecological and Historical Significance

Beyond Beauty: The Ecological and Cultural Significance of PNW’s Wild Roses

Key ways roses help nature:

• Rose hips provide food for birds throughout the winter
• Blooms attract pollinators, from bees to butterflies
• Wild roses are larval hosts for the morning cloak and grey hairstreak butterflies (LBJWC).
• Dense thicket habit provides shelter for birds and wildlife (WNPS).

Historical Context:

• Indigenous communities of the Pacific Northwest have a strong history of working with rose plants for food and medicine.
• Snohomish tribe makes a decoction from rose roots to help with sore throats (WNPS).

Medicinal + Food:

• Rose hips can be added to teas or herbal preparations
• Rose hips are valued for their vitamin C content
• Rose hips are added to jams
• Rose petals have a wide range of topical applications, from skincare to wound care (CWH).

The Power of Rose ID in Land Stewardship

In conclusion, the wild roses of the Pacific Northwest are not just a feast for the eyes, but also vital players in our ecosystem.

When you learn to identify these beauties with the tools provided in this guide, you become an active participant in ecological conservation. So, grab your gloves, a notepad, and this guide, and take the first step on your botanical adventure today.

Every rose you identify and protect writes a new chapter in the story of our natural world—a story where you're the protagonist making a tangible difference. Share your discoveries, join local conservation groups, and let's bloom together in stewardship of our cherished wild roses.

FAQ: Your Questions, Answered

What are the most common wild rose species in the Pacific Northwest?
In the PNW, you'll typically find the Dwarf Rose (Rosa gymnocarpa), Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana), Cluster Rose (Rosa pisocarpa), and Woods’ Rose (Rosa woodsii). There are also common non-native species like the Dog Rose (Rosa canina) and Sweetbriar Rose (Rosa eglanteria / Rosa rubiginosa).
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How can I tell different wild rose species apart?
Pay close attention to the rose hips and prickles. Each species has distinctive shapes and patterns that can aid in identification. Detailed visuals in this guide can help you spot these differences.
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How are wild roses different from cultivated roses?
Wild roses developed and established themselves without human intervention, while cultivated roses have been hybridized and intentionally created for certain characteristics by plant breeders. Usually, cultivated roses have more than 5 petals, a longer bloom time, and sport a variety of flower colors.

Native roses multiply easily through suckers, especially if they are in their ideal habitat. This spreading tendency forms thickets that serve as habitat for wildlife.

Generally, cultivated roses don’t have a thicket-forming tendency and are more “mild mannered” (American Meadows).
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What should I do if I find a wild rose species not covered in this guide?
If you encounter an unidentified wild rose, take clear photos of its flowers, hips, and prickles. Note its location and any unique features. Then, consult additional resources like local botanical gardens, online plant identification forums, or a professional botanist.

Can wild roses in the PNW hybridize, making identification more difficult?
Yes, hybridization can occur among certain species if they are in bloom at the same time, such as the Clustered Wild Rose and the Nootka Rose. When trying to identify potential hybrids, look for intermediate characteristics and consult specialized resources.
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Are there any tips for safely handling roses when examining them?
When handling roses, it's best to wear gloves to protect against prickles. Use caution and handle the stems gently to avoid breaking the plant's parts or injuring yourself.
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What's the difference between a prickle and a thorn?
In scientific terms, thorns are modified stems, while prickles are growths on the stem made from a different material.
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Where can I learn more about local flora identification and conservation efforts?
Local nature centers, botanical gardens, and conservation organizations are great places to learn more about flora identification. These organizations often offer workshops, field guides, and opportunities to get involved in conservation.