Three to ten foot tall shrub usually with prickly branched stems. Pink flowers vary from 1 ½ to 2 ½ inches broad composed of 5 sepals, 5 petals and numerous stamens and pistils. Flowers commonly grow in clusters on young side branches arising from the old wood.

HISTORY: Rose hips, or “fruits”, adhere to the plant over winter and can be picked and can be eaten raw or made into jelly when other fruits are unavailable. The Indians and early settlers used them as food, as do also rural inhabitants of Europe and Asia. They are an important winter wildlife food for pheasants, grouse, and quail and are eaten by black bears in the fall.

Late June to Early July