Native Habitat:
Open forests, forest edges, meadows, and streambanks.
 
Bloom Time:
May – July
 
Growth Habit & Mature Size:
Deciduous shrub, 6–12 feet tall, with arching, thorny stems and pinnately compound leaves. Produces large, fragrant, pink to rose-colored flowers followed by red hips.
 
Light & Soil Requirements:
Full sun to partial shade; thrives in well-drained sandy, loamy, or gravelly soils. Tolerates seasonal dryness once established.
 
Willamette Valley Native Companion Plants:
Camassia quamash, Achillea millefolium, Eriophyllum lanatum, Sidalcea campestris, Festuca idahoensis.
 
Urban Garden Function:
Provides showy, fragrant summer blooms, edible fruit, and structural interest in urban gardens, naturalized landscapes, and pollinator-friendly plantings. Works well as a layered shrub, in low-maintenance borders, or in wildlife-supportive hedgerows.
 
Wildlife Supported:
Flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Hips provide food for birds and small mammals. Dense, thorny stems offer shelter and nesting habitat for wildlife.
 
Historical Use:
Berries and flowers were used by Indigenous peoples for food and teas; stems had minor medicinal applications. Valued ornamentally for fragrance, blooms, and wildlife support in native plant and restoration gardens.