''Rosa californica'', the California wildrose, or California rose, is a species of rose native to the U.S. states of

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

and

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idaho. T ...

and the northern part of

Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...

, Mexico. The plant is native to chaparral and woodlands and the Sierra Nevada foothills, and can survive drought, though it grows most abundantly in moist soils near water sources. This thorny, flowering, fruit-bearing shrub is also deciduous, and grows vertically up to six feet tall. The meaning of its name is twofold; ''Rosa'', that it resembles or is composed of roses, and c''alifornica,'' that it originates from California.

Description

''Rosa californica'' is a bush or thicket-forming shrub with prickly, curving stems. The fragrant flowers may grow singly or in

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphology (biology), Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of sperma ...

s of several blooms. Each rose is open-faced and generally flat, with five petals in any shade of pink from almost white to deep magenta. The five smooth petals and sepals have a bowl-like bloom, semi-inferior ovaries, and compound veiny and hairy leaves. ''R. californica'' also bears fruit called "

rose hip The rose hip or rosehip, also called rose haw and rose hep, is the accessory fruit of the various species of rose plant. It is typically red to orange, but ranges from dark purple to black in some species. Rose hips begin to form after pollina ...

s," which contain yellow seeds.

Distribution, habitat, and adaptations

''Rosa californica'' is a common plant native to California. It is primarily found in elevations of below 6,000 feet. While most common in moist regions like river banks, the plant can also adapt to various soil textures, develop drought resistance, and has common-pest and disease resistance.Smither-Kopperl, M. L. (2021)
Plant Guide for California wildrose (Rosa californica)
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 2022-10-08.California Phenology Project: Species profile for California Wildrose (Rosa californica)
USA National Phenology Network, National Park Service, UCSB. Retrieved 2022-10-08.

Competition

''Rosa californica'' competes with other vegetation in moist environments because of its lateral spreading rhizomes (horizontally-spreading underground roots) and above-ground, thorny stems. Moreover, the wildroses' stems and shoots can be cut, but will regrow from submerged rhizomes. Thus, ''R. californica'' may develop thickets and overwhelm "desirable vegetation" under improper management. However, it does not pose a foreseeable environmental concern.

Cultivation

''Rosa californica'' is used in California native gardens and habitat gardens, forming colonies, and attracting wildlife with the bright rose hips in autumn. Hard, dry internal seeds can be extracted by hand from mature, bright red hips. The wildrose can also be propagated with stem or rhizome cuttings.

Uses

''Rosa californica'' is readily acclimated. Its natural propagation helps restore damp areas. Subterranean stems stabilize the surrounding earth. Thorny thickets offer ground cover, shelter, and even nests for organisms. ''R. californica'''s open flowers and nectar attract insects and pollinators. Its lengthened spring to fall blooming period offers food for local bees. ''R. californica's'' fruits also persist on thickets through the forage-scarce winter, serving as food for bugs, birds, and hoofed mammals like deer and elk. The wildroses' hips are related to the ''Rosaceae'' family's apricots, apples, and roses. They are fragrant, edible, and look and taste like "small apples." Some indigenous California tribes eat ''R. californica's'' hips raw and use the stems and fibers for crafts like coiled baskets, jewelry, and decoration. Other tribes leverage the roses' medicinal properties. They used a mix of rose petals, leaves, and/or rose "hips" in drinks or as medicine to relieve skin and general inflammation, pain, and illness (including fever, stomach pains, and sores). The rose hips were used during World War II for their high vitamin content. They are dried for tea, or for use in jellies and sauces. The

Cahuilla The Cahuilla , also known as ʔívil̃uqaletem or Ivilyuqaletem, are a Native American people of the various tribes of the Cahuilla Nation, living in the inland areas of southern California.California chaparral and woodlands - (''ecoregion'') *

California montane chaparral and woodlands The California montane chaparral and woodlands is an ecoregion defined by the World Wildlife Fund, spanning of mountains in the Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Coast Ranges of southern and central California. The ecoregion is part of ...

- (''sub-ecoregion'') *

California interior chaparral and woodlands The California interior chaparral and woodlands ecoregion covers in an elliptical ring around the California Central Valley. It occurs on hills and mountains ranging from to . It is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, ...

- (''sub-ecoregion'')

References

External links