Wild Roses
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Wild roses (Rosa californica) grow native throughout the Pacific Coast in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. These roses grow well in part shade in lower elevations but prefer full sun exposure at high elevations and along the coastline. Wild roses grow best in dry to moist soil with good drainage. In their native habitat, these flowers grow easily and quickly.
Wild rose shrubs grow evergreen in mild climates, producing arching branches covered with thorns. The thorns form hooks, which tend to keep wildlife from walking through the bushes. This rose variety grows upright, reaching up to 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The wild rose's dark green compound leaves are made up of seven smaller leaflets with toothed edge.
Wild rose flowers appear from spring through summer with a few blossoms in the fall. The blossoms are made up of five pink petals surrounding a pale yellow center. This 2-inch-wide flower opens flat and emits a strong sweet fragrance. This shrub is a favorite for feeding honeybees. The blossoms are followed by bright red hips containing the rose seeds. This edible fruit contains a high level of vitamin C and reaches 1/2 inch across. The hips ripen in August and October. The seeds germinate best when exposed to cold temperatures before planting. Even with stratification, wild rose seeds can take up to two years to sprout. Wild roses also spread through root suckers, which grow directly from the ground near the edge of the shrub. These suckers can be dug up and transplanted to create a new wild rose bush.
Wild rose shrubs grow evergreen in mild climates, producing arching branches covered with thorns. The thorns form hooks, which tend to keep wildlife from walking through the bushes. This rose variety grows upright, reaching up to 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. The wild rose's dark green compound leaves are made up of seven smaller leaflets with toothed edge.
Wild rose flowers appear from spring through summer with a few blossoms in the fall. The blossoms are made up of five pink petals surrounding a pale yellow center. This 2-inch-wide flower opens flat and emits a strong sweet fragrance. This shrub is a favorite for feeding honeybees. The blossoms are followed by bright red hips containing the rose seeds. This edible fruit contains a high level of vitamin C and reaches 1/2 inch across. The hips ripen in August and October. The seeds germinate best when exposed to cold temperatures before planting. Even with stratification, wild rose seeds can take up to two years to sprout. Wild roses also spread through root suckers, which grow directly from the ground near the edge of the shrub. These suckers can be dug up and transplanted to create a new wild rose bush.
