Nootka Rose

Rosa nutkana

Rosaceae

• Keystone Plant
• Spokane Native
• USDA Zone 3-9
• Sun-Part Shade
• Size: 3'-9’ wide x 4'-6' tall
• Drought Tolerant: Moderate
• Evergreen: no
• Flower Color: Pink (May - July)
• Wildlife Value: Fragrant flowers attract bees and butterflies; large rose hips provide critical winter food for birds and mammals including deer, elk, bears, and numerous rodents; impenetrable thickets offer exceptional nesting sites and protective cover; hosts mourning cloak and grey hairstreak butterflies

Nootka Rose is a vigorous native deciduous shrub growing 4-9 feet tall and spreading readily through rhizomes to form dense, loose thickets. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist conditions, though it adapts to various moisture levels once established. This robust species grows naturally in moist flats, along streams, near wetlands, and in meadows from Alaska to California and east to the Rocky Mountains. The variety hispida is found east of the Cascades (including Spokane), while variety nutkana grows west of the Cascades. Both tolerate a range of soils from sandy to clay as long as adequate moisture is available.

The compound leaves consist of 5-7 toothed leaflets with rounded tips. Stems are distinctive—often very dark brown to black—armed with paired, straight, broad thorns at the base of each leaf. These thorns are larger than most wild roses, creating an effective barrier. From late spring through summer, spectacular fragrant flowers appear, typically borne singly (sometimes in pairs or triplets) at branch tips. The large pink blooms measure 2-3 inches across with broadly notched petals, filling the air with sweet rose fragrance. By late summer and fall, the flowers are followed by large (1-2 cm), purplish-red rose hips that persist well into winter, creating stunning displays and providing crucial wildlife food.

As a keystone species, Nootka Rose is ecologically invaluable. The fragrant flowers attract numerous pollinators including native bees and butterflies. The large, nutritious rose hips are consumed by an extraordinary array of wildlife—deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, bears, coyotes, and various rodents eat the fruits, while squirrels, mice, beavers, and porcupines consume twigs and leaves. Birds including waterfowl utilize the dense thickets for nesting and escape cover. Deer browse the flowers and young stems (though the plants are often called "deer candy"). Indigenous peoples throughout the Pacific Northwest used Nootka rose extensively—the hips (exceptionally high in vitamins A, C, and E) were made into teas, jams, and dried for winter food; young shoots were eaten raw or cooked; roots and bark had numerous medicinal uses including eyewash, treating sore throats, and easing childbirth; branches were used for hand brooms and to remove human scent before hunting.

Ideal for hedgerows, wildlife barriers, erosion control on streambanks and hillsides, and naturalized areas. The spreading habit creates impenetrable thickets perfect for defensive plantings and wildlife habitat. IMPORTANT: Plant away from pathways—the large thorns are formidable. Excellent for outer property boundaries where it can spread freely. Works beautifully in raingarden edges, pollinator gardens, and habitat corridors. Good companions include willows, elderberry, serviceberry, and native grasses. Can be propagated easily through live staking of dormant shoots. The combination of spectacular fragrant flowers, exceptional wildlife value, and erosion control makes Nootka Rose outstanding for ecological landscapes. A cornerstone species for supporting native biodiversity in Spokane-area gardens.