Virginia Tech Dendrology

Nootka rose Rosaceae Rosa nutkana C. Presl symbol: RONU
Leaf: Alternate, pinnately compound, deciduous, 6 inches overall; 5 to 7 elliptical leaflets, each 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, serrate, green and glabrous above and below, obvious stipules at base of petiole.
Flower: Very showy and fragrant, pink to rose, 1 1/2-3 inches across, 5-petalled.
Fruit: Shiny purple-red, fleshy round "hip" containing achenes, 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter.
Twig: Green to red, stems armed with a pair of stiff prickles near the base of each leaf, otherwise generally without prickles except on young stems which may contain many thin prickles.
Bark: Red-brown to gray.
Form: Finely branched deciduous shrub 3-6’ tall.
Looks like: sweetbriar rose - Woods' rose - dog rose - little wood rose

Additional Range Information: Rosa nutkana is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material 2025 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information