Common Names: Prairie Wild Rose, Sunshine Rose, Pasture Rose
Height: 1-3
feet
Roots can
grow to more than 20 feet below ground
Petals of
5 flowers are about 2 inches wide
7-11 leaflets toothed on the upper half; leaves are medium green
Petal Color: varies from pink to white; rarely deep rose
Bloom: May-September
Exposure: sun to partial sun
Companions: Indian grass, Switch grass, Little Blue Stem, Black-eyed Susan, Northern Bedstraw and Bush Clover
Rose hips remain on the plant throughout the winter season.
Low Prairie Rose is an example of a shrub that has adapted to the regular occurrences of fire and heavy grazing on the prairies.
Attracts: Bumblebees and butterflies. Birds fee on hips in winter that aids in seed dispersal. The rose hips are also eaten by deer, antelope, elk, sheep, sharp-tailed grouse, prairie chicken, pheasants and various songbirds. Small mammals like skunks, rabbits, squirrels, and other various rodents, eat the fruits, stems and foilage of the Prairie Rose.