Rosa arkansana (Prairie Rose)
| Also known as: | Wild Rose |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Rosa |
| Family: | Rosaceae (Rose) |
| Life cycle: | perennial woody |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; fields, prairies, along roads, edges of woods |
| Bloom season: | June - July |
| Plant height: | 6 to 40 inches |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: FACU MW: FACU NCNE: FACU |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |  |
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Detailed Information
Flower: 
![[photo of flower]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd3/rosa-arkansana-78798-2.jpg)
1 to 4 flowers typically form at tips of new, ground shoots and occasionally at tips of second year lateral branches of older woody stems. Flowers are 1½ to 2 inches across with 5 broad, rounded petals with wavy edges often notched at the tip. The color can range from nearly pure white to deep rose pink and often strongly bi-colored. Numerous yellow stamens surround the shorter styles in the center. The sepals are narrow lance-like, ½ to just under 1 inch long, rounded at the base, the outer surface smooth. Flower stalks are smooth.
Leaves and stem:
![[photo of leaves]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pink/prairie-rose-100_0968.jpg)
Leaves are alternate and compound with 9 to 11 leaflets, occasionally 7. Leaflets are ¾ to 1¼ inches long and ½ to ¾ inch wide, generally elliptic or widest above the middle (obovate), rounded or blunt at the tip, with serrated edges except at the base. Leaf stalks are ½ to just over 1 inch long and hairy. 2 wing-like appendages (stipules) are at the base of the stalk, and sometimes have a few scattered glands around the edge of the tip end. Upper leaf surface is dark green and hairy to smooth, the underside light green and hairy.
![[photo of stem]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pink/prairie-rose_0729_111048.jpg)
First year flowering stems are green turning red the following season, mostly simple, typically spreading to ascending. Lateral branches are produced on older woody stems and are weak and often don't flower. Both first and second year growth bear stiff, slender bristles of unequal size.
Fruit:
![[photo of fruit]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd3/rosa-arkansana-809389-2.jpg)
The round berry like fruits (rose hips) are about ½ inch in diameter, turning bright red in late summer.
![[photo of seed]](/udata/r9ndp23q/pd3/rosa-arkansana-983-3.jpg)
Inside the hips are several light brown seeds that are oval to egg-shaped, about 1/6 inch long, with a few long hairs at the ends and across the surface.
Notes:
Prairie Rose establishes from seeds distributed by wildlife (typically birds) that have consumed its nourishing fruit. Once established, they spread out from underground rhizomes, often forming colonies. Above ground stems rarely persist for more than a few years before dying back to be replaced by new shoots. All three of Minnesota's native roses appear very similar at first glance. Two primary indicators for R. arkansana identification are its preference for open, sandy prairie and small size which rarely gets over 18 inches and more often just 10-12 inches. Like Prickly Wild Rose (Rosa acicularis) it has prickles on both new and old growth but it lacks the glands found on the leaf stalks of the latter, and their natural ranges barely overlap along a NW to SE line through central Minnesota. Prickly Rose is also a rather taller plant. Smooth Wild Rose (Rosa blanda) shares the range of R. arkansana throughout the state, but as it name suggests, Smooth Rose lacks bristles on its new growth—it's a mid-sized to tall shrub whose bristly, woody stems persist producing showers of flowers for many years.
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More photos
Prairie Rose plant
Prairie Rose habitat, with Butterfly-weed
deep rose colored flower
near white flower
pink striped flower
Prairie Rose plant
Prairie Rose habitat, with Butterfly-weed
deep rose colored flower
near white flower
pink striped flowerPhotos by K. Chayka taken in Ramsey County. Photos courtesy Peter M. Dziuk taken in Anoka, Dakota and Wabasha counties.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2010-06-11 12:04:51
There are thousands of them growing along side Aurdal River Road, just about 4 miles east of Fergus Falls. I stopped to get a closer look because I've driven that road hundreds of times and never noticed them before. I was surprised because they are very cute little flowers. This website was so easy to use I found out what they were in seconds!
on: 2010-06-11 16:32:53
Keep in mind there are 4 species of wild rose in MN all with similar flowers. You might have come across Rosa arkansana, or possibly Rosa blanda, which is even more common. Something you can check next time is the number of leaflets. R. blanda has 5-9, mostly 7. R. arkansana has 9 or 11 leaflets. R. blanda tends to grow over 3 feet tall, as well.
on: 2011-07-30 18:27:52
There are several big clumps of wild roses on the banks of the Minnesota River in Ft. Snelling State Park. They are actually clinging to the river bank and reaching down to the water. The flowers have five petals and the plants are over 3 feet tall. They make a beautiful foreground attraction to a photo of the river.
on: 2011-07-30 19:32:51
Randy, those may actually be Rosa blanda, which I often see in roadside ditches and near shorelines. We'll get all the wild roses up here eventually. :)
on: 2019-06-23 22:33:18
I found a few of these plants this week just off the walking/bike path in the former Arden Hills Arsenal. Soil is quite sandy in this area.
on: 2020-05-06 19:48:25
Are there any parks in the West metro that would have Rosa arkansana wild roses? I haven't seen too many around.
on: 2020-05-06 20:44:46
Michael, I can't say for certain but there may be some at Crow Hassen in Hennepin County.
on: 2022-06-21 09:00:07
Is Rosa Arkansa or Blanda a good replacement plant for invasive plants like asian honeysuckle?
on: 2022-06-21 09:09:00
Mary, beware that wild roses will spread and will require some management to keep them in check. If your desire is to replace honeysuckle with something better behaved, roses are probably not a good choice. Check to see what other shrubs are native to your area to find a good match for your particular soil and light conditions.
on: 2022-07-16 10:31:18
Is there a reason why you don't see wild roses in the ditches anymore?
on: 2022-07-18 09:58:41
Teri, there are probably multiple reasons why you don't see any particular native plant in road ditches any more, but two common reasons are likely the takeover by invasive species, and herbicide spraying to keep said invasives in check, though that doesn't seem to be especially successful. Sad.
on: 2023-08-30 19:52:04
I would love to see some wild prairie roses in my ditches. They are plentiful about a mile down the road, and they are taking soo long to reach us! Would it work to spread collected rose hips in my ditch? Thanks!
on: 2023-08-30 20:00:14
Kat, just be aware that rose seeds can take a couple years to germinate so if you toss some hips in your ditch you probably won't see any change for a while.
on: 2024-09-18 03:14:16
Does anyone know where they grow as of right now? I'm looking to harvest some rosehips for a rosehip syrup for this upcoming winter! Thanks :)
on: 2024-09-18 08:05:19
Hana, this site is not an appropriate venue for requests such as yours. Having said that, there are two things to consider: 1) we don't condone harvesting from the wild without the landowner's permission (regardless of whether it is public or private property), and 2) it is unlikely you'd find enough in any one population, especially in the Twin Cities area, to make a meaningful amount of syrup. If you have your heart set on it, you might try a forager's group. There should be many on the web.