# Prickly Wild Rose (*Rosa acicularis*) The Prickly Wild Rose is a beautiful shrub with lovely pink flowers. It has sharp thorns that help protect it from animals. This plant is often found in nature and is loved by many butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 8 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Prickly Wild Rose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rosa_acicularis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ravedave, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_acicularis.jpg) ## Appearance The Prickly Wild Rose has vibrant pink to rose-purple, sometimes white, five-petaled flowers that contrast beautifully with its densely prickly stems. Its dark green, compound leaves later give way to bright red, fleshy rose hips in autumn, making it distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Rosa ## Interesting facts - Indigenous peoples historically used its hips to make tasty teas and nutritious jellies. - Its hips contain more Vitamin C than an orange, supercharging winter snacks! - The name 'acicularis' means 'needle-like,' a perfect fit for its super sharp prickles! - This tough rose is the official floral emblem of Alberta, Canada, thriving in cold lands! ## Special abilities - **Thorned Protector:** The Prickly Wild Rose has sharp, needle-like prickles that help it defend against hungry herbivores, keeping its tender leaves safe. - **Vitamin-Rich Larder:** Prickly Wild Rose grows bright red hips packed with Vitamin C, providing vital winter food for animals and aiding seed dispersal. - **Cold Conqueror:** This rose can thrive in very cold climates, using its hardy root system to survive harsh winters. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-300 cm - **Spread:** 100-200 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feeds on the nutritious rose hips, helping to spread seeds. - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its leaves and young stems, despite the thorns. - **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Sips nectar from its vibrant pink flowers. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Thorny Stem](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thorny-stem): Pertaining to plants that have stems covered with sharp, pointed projections for defense. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Be careful of the thorns when you get close to this plant! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Prickly Wild Rose? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Prickly Wild Rose? 100-300 cm ### How wide does Prickly Wild Rose spread? 100-200 cm ### How big are the flowers on Prickly Wild Rose? 3-5 cm ### When does Prickly Wild Rose bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Prickly Wild Rose edible? Yes ### Is Prickly Wild Rose toxic? None ### What is Prickly Wild Rose's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Illinois Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-street-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Gakona Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gakona-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Kijik](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kijik) — Alaska, US · Neighborhood - [Kijik Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kijik-archeological-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Mount McKinley National Park Headquarters District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-mckinley-national-park-headquarters-district) — Alaska, US · National Park - [Whiteshell Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/whiteshell-provincial-park) — Manitoba, CA · State Park [View all places to see Prickly Wild Rose](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/prickly-wild-rose) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Prickly Wild Rose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/prickly-wild-rose)