Family: Rosaceae

Common name: Nootka rose

E-flora BC: http://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Rosa%20nutkana

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_nutkana

The Nootka rose is common and abundant in our area and occurs in many spots, ranging from moist deep soils to dry meadows. In favorable sites it can grow wide and tall (~3 m), while in dry exposed sites it exists as foot-high plants.

Overview of a Nootka rose in bloom. Some twigs of snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) are visible on the left in the photo). Photo credit: Lynda Stevens

Like other roses, the Nootka rose has compound leaves, usually with 5-9 toothed-edge leaflets per leaf.

Foliage of Nootka rose. Note the compound leaves, usually 5-9 leaflets, toothed edges. Photo credit: Lynda Stevens

The stems of Nootka rose have prickles (the correct botanical term for the thorns of roses is ‘prickles’). The prickles occur in pairs just below the leaf node, and they’re more or less straight. Non-native roses in our area have curved or hooked prickles. Stems on very old plants can appear almost black.

Note the pairs of ‘prickles’ subtending (underneath) each leaf node. Nootka rose prickles are straight and occurs in pairs, while those of the locally invasive sweetbriar rose (Rosa eglanteria) are hooked and dispersed along the branches. Photo credit: Lynda Stevens

We’re all familial with the beautiful flower of roses. Like most wild roses, the Nootka rose has a whorl of five sepals, then five petals, numerous stamens and, in the center, the female ovary. Here’s a link to some nice photographs of a rose flower (not Nootka rose) showing the different floral organs relative to each other: http://murry-gans.blogspot.com/2016/06/roses-more-beautiful-up-close.html.

Nootka rose flowers range in color from light-pink to a deep-rose pink. As for other wild roses, there are 5 petals in the flower. Photo credit: Lynda Stevens
The Nootka rose plant flowers over an extended period from late spring to mid-summer. Here we see a bud, its petals still partially enveloped by the green slender sepals, a flower in full anthesis (fully open), and a developing fruit. Photo credit: Lynda Stevens

The fruits of roses are called ‘rose hips’. People around the world harvest and use rose hips for food and medicine. The seeds (‘achenes’) inside the fruit are covered in stiff hairs, and must be separated from the rose hip flesh before consumption. The fruit flesh is very high in vitamin C and carotenoids (the same orange compound that makes carrots orange).

This is an immature rose hip. In many rose species, including the Nootka rose, the sepals and stamens remain at the tip of the rose hip as it matures. Photo credit: Lynda Stevens
The hips remains on the plant throughout the winter, serving as a food source for animals (and people when needed!). Photo credit: Matthew Nenninger & Tracie Andrews

Nootka rose has many uses. Both the flowers and leaves are fragrant and can be used in teas and tonics. The leafy branches are used to protect and flavour foods during pit cooking, and there are many medicinal preparations made of different parts of the plant.