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A Visual Guide to Baldhip Rose: Native PNW Plant ID

Master Baldhip Rose ID and its key traits. Discover how this vital PNW rose enriches local biodiversity for wildlife and pollinators!
Published on
October 26, 2024
Master Baldhip Rose ID and its key traits. Discover how this vital PNW rose enriches local biodiversity for wildlife and pollinators!
Author:
Ren Elizabeth
Head Gardener at Eco Friendly Homestead

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Native West Coast Woodland Rose

Got a shady corner in your garden that needs a touch of beauty? Planning a food forest or embarking on ecological restoration in a West Coast woodland? Meet Baldhip Rose, your new best friend.

I was thrilled when I first stumbled upon this diminutive rose. In my yard's wooded area, it's often smaller than its other PNW native counterparts, with dainty leaves and small blooms. It's clear why this plant is also called "Dwarf Rose"!

But don’t let its size fool you—this plant is surprisingly well-equipped with prickles. They might be termed "weak," but their abundance is quite a sight!

Before this discovery, I assumed all roses needed full sun to truly flourish. Imagine my surprise when I noticed these resilient roses thriving under the shady canopy of my wild landscape.

In this article, I’ll guide you through the key features to identify Baldhip Rose confidently. Here, I've created visual tools designed to enhance your identification skills, plus insights into its ecological role and historical significance in the Pacific Northwest.

Baldhip Rose: Native Understory Plant of the West Coast

Baldhip Rose Details

Botanical Name

  • Rosa gymnocarpa

Etymology

  • gymno: Greek: naked
  • carpa: Greek: fruit

AKA

  • Dwarf Rose
  • Wood Rose - but not to be confused with Rosa woodsii which is called Woods' Rose

Native Habitat

  • British Columbia, generally southernmost part
  • Washington, generally the western half of the state and then far east
  • Oregon, generally the western half of the state, with some occurances in the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whiteman National Forests
  • California, mostly western areas with occurances in national forests northeast of Fresno
  • Idaho, western zone and panhandle
  • Montana, northwest forested regions

Environment

  • Forested areas
  • Part-Shade Understory
  • Exception: Sunny spots in Siskiyou Mountains, var. serpentina

‍Sources: Bellevue Botanical Garden; iNaturalist; Pavek, P.L.S. and D.M. Skinner. 2013. Plant guide for baldhip rose (Rosa gymnocarpa Nutt.). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pullman, WA;   Ertter, B., & Lewis, W. H. (2016). RELATIONSHIPS, INFRATAXA, AND HYBRIDS OF ROSA GYMNOCARPA (ROSACEAE). Madroño, 63(3), 268–280.

visual guide to Dwarf Wood Rose

Practical Guide: How to Identify Rosa Gymnocapa in the Wild

Mastering the identification of wild roses in the Pacific Northwest is vital for ecological stewardship.

While the region boasts native wild roses like Rosa gymnocarpa, invasive species like Dog Rose and Sweetbrier pose a challenge. These species intrude on our local ecosystem and displace native plants. This changes our habitats in a way that decreases biodiversity.

Native Baldhip Rose enhances the region's landscape. It's a top choice for woodland conservation efforts, since it provides habitats for native wildlife.

This guide offers visual tools to help you distinguish between our native species and invasive threats, safeguarding our local ecosystems for ecologists and conservationists alike

Baldhip Rose Features
Feature Description
Height Usually under 4ft tall (can be taller in some instances).
Habitat Found mainly in woodland areas along the west coast, often in the understory, with the exception of variant serpentina in the Siskiyou Mountains which can be in full sun.
Flowers Look for small solitary pink flowers.
Prickles Straight, abundant, weak, exception with subspecies helleri, where branches are sparsely prickled but are numerous at base of plant (found in SE BC, NW MT, and the southern Sierra Nevada)
Leaves 5-9 leaflets on each compound leaf; leaflets are double-serrated and often have a rounded, serrated, top.
Hips Small, oblong, pear shaped, and without sepals or any remaining residue on the outer edge of the hip.

Sources: Pavek, P.L.S. and D.M. Skinner. 2013. Plant guide for baldhip rose (Rosa gymnocarpa Nutt.). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pullman, WA;   Ertter, B., & Lewis, W. H. (2008). NEW ROSA (ROSACEAE) IN CALIFORNIA AND OREGON. Madroño, 55(2), 170–177; Ertter, B., & Lewis, W. H. (2016). RELATIONSHIPS, INFRATAXA, AND HYBRIDS OF ROSA GYMNOCARPA (ROSACEAE). Madroño, 63(3), 268–280.

Close-up of a single leaflet on one of the baldhip rose plants in my yard - notice how the larger serrations have smaller serrations within them?
an extreme example of a inverse-ovate leaflet shape on one of my backyard baldhip roses

Comparison Chart: Baldhip Rose vs. Other PNW Roses

Dwarf Wood Rose Compared To Other WIld PNW Roses

Baldhip Rose vs. Cluster Rose

Feature Baldhip Rose Cluster Rose
Prickles Numerous, fine, weak prickles OR unarmed on stems if subspecies helleri Medium-sized prickles on reddish-black stems
Hips Loses sepals early in autumn Sepals remain throughout the winter
Habitat Usually found in shady areas, with exception of var. serpentina in Siskiyou Mountains Prefers some sunshine and moister areas

Baldhip Rose vs. Nootka Rose

Feature Baldhip Rose Nootka Rose
Hips Pear-shaped, oblong, without sepals Typically wider than tall, sepals persist
Prickles Weak and thin Strong and prominent
Leaflets Small, doubly serrated, rounded at top Larger, doubly serrated, slightly less rounded at tip
Blooms Small, singular Usually solitary, occasionally in groups of up to three

Baldhip Rose vs. Woods’ Rose

Feature Baldhip Rose Woods’ Rose
Hips Pear-shaped, oblong, without sepals, do not wrinkle over time Typically round, sepals persist, wrinkle over time
Flowers Can be singular but often in clusters Usually solitary
Prickles Weak and thin Larger, stronger in comparison
Leaflets Short, usually more stout in comparison, nearly ovate Usually more elongated

Baldhip Rose vs. Rugosa Rose (Invasive)

Feature Baldhip Rose Rugosa Rose
Habitat Usually in understory with exception of Siskiyou Mountains Found along coastal regions, tolerant of saline and sunny conditions
Leaves Thin, flat Shiny and highly textured
Blooms Singular, small Larger blooms

Baldhip Rose vs. Dog Rose (Invasive)

Feature Baldhip Rose Dog Rose
Prickles Straight but weak “thorns” Distinctive strong curved prickles
Hips More pear shaped, cleaner sepal break at tip Perfectly oval-shaped, usually without sepals but some residue remains

Baldhip Rose vs. Multiflora Rose (Invasive)

Feature Baldhip Rose Multiflora Rose
Prickles Straight, weak, thin “thorns” Distinctive curved prickles
Hips More abrupt taper at the sepal tip, usually singular Very spherical on stems that are often strongly upright, sometimes sepals do not persist, usually in clusters of 10+
Blooms Pink, solitary Usually White and in clusters of 10+

Baldhip Rose vs. Sweet Brier (Invasive)

Feature Baldhip Rose Sweet Brier
Prickles Straight, thin prickles Hooked prickles
Sepals No fringed sepals "Fringed" sepals on blooms and hips

Sources: Madroño 1; Madroño 2; Barbara Ertter 2014, Rosa pisocarpa, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, Revision 2, Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2020. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

One of the easiest visual component of the baldhip rose to help with ID is its hip/fruit. You can see the sepals have fallen cleanly off of this one from my wooded area

Small but important: The Ecological Benefits of Baldhip Rose

For a long time, I was a little overwhelmed by the variety within the wild roses of the PNW. I could spot a rose, but identifying it beyond that was a challenge for me.

This perspective shifted when I encountered a unique rose nestled near a shaded trail behind my home. There, amidst the dappled light of Douglas Fir trees, was a Baldhip Rose, its branches adorned with an arsenal of straight thorns.

In delving deeper into the Rosa genus, I discovered that this quiet yet steadfast plant was the Rosa gymnocarpa—Baldhip Rose. It became the first of our roses that I could identify with confidence.

While it doesn't boast the showy displays of its cultivated cousins or the local fame of the Nootka Rose, it quietly thrives in the understory, maybe a bit of an introvert, which may be why it wins a place in my heart.

But why should you take notice of this understated rose when the world is full of bold, mesmerizing blooms?

Ecological Significance

Wildlife Food Source

According to the Washington Native Plant Society and the East Multnomah SWCD, there are several native animal species who enjoy Dwarf Wood Rose as a food source.

  • Grouse
  • Bluebirds
  • Juncos
  • Grosbeaks
  • Quail
  • Pheasants
  • Thrushes
  • Mourning Cloak Butterfly Larvae
  • Gray Hairstreak Butterfly Larvae
  • Anise Swallowtail Butterflies (nectar)
  • Hummingbirds (nectar)
  • Leaf-cutter Bee
  • Chipmunks
  • Rabbits
  • Porcupines
  • Coyotes
  • Deer
  • Elk
  • Bear

Interestingly, the seeds are a source of grit for birds, which helps them to digest food properly.

Wildlife Habitat

WNPS and EMSWCD also note that Rosa gymnocarpa provides the ecosystem service of habitat and shelter.

  • Pheasants
  • Grouse
  • Small mammals
  • Pollinators (overwinter inside stems)
Baldhip rose in bloom

Baldhip Rose: An Essential Native Plant for West Coast Ecosystems

As we protect these delicate roses, we write ourselves into the story of our natural world. Let’s embrace the journey with wonder, curiosity, and a commitment to conservation.

This adventure is not just about discovering a plant; it's about connecting with the intricate web of life in which we all play a part. Understanding and identifying the wild roses of the Pacific Northwest empowers you to actively participate in ecological preservation. So, arm yourself with knowledge, step into the wilderness, and let’s bloom together in stewardship of our cherished wild roses.

Click here to learn more about the roses that you can find growing wild in the PNW!

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*Disclaimer: While I strive for accuracy, I'm human and so there may be errors. This blog is for educational purposes only and you assume any and all risk associated with plant ID, foraging, and consuming plants. I'm not a professional, so don't take any information as professional advice. You understand that any errors can cause serious illness, injury or death. Before working with a plant in any way, consult a local guide who understands both ID and proper preparation. Be smart, friend!