University of Alberta Museums Search

Scientific Name Rosa acicularis Lindl. General Description Perennial subshrub, 0.5-1.5 m tall, prickly; stems spindly to stout, reddish- to greyish-brown, erect to arching Leaves Alternate, pinnately compound, subtended by a stipule; leaflets 3-7, oval to elliptic, 2-5 cm long, margins toothed Flowers

Inflorescence solitary; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, lance-shaped, 1.5-4 cm long, 2-4 mm wide; petals 5, distinct, heart-shaped, 2-3 cm long, pink; stamens numerous; pistils numerous, distinct; ovaries…

Inflorescence solitary; flowers radially symmetric; sepals 5, distinct, lance-shaped, 1.5-4 cm long, 2-4 mm wide; petals 5, distinct, heart-shaped, 2-3 cm long, pink; stamens numerous; pistils numerous, distinct; ovaries superior, enclosed in the hypanthium

Read More + Fruits and Seeds Achenes, 3.8-4.5 mm long, yellowish, stiff hairs, enclosed by fleshy hypanthium; hypanthium forms hip, red, spherical to pear-shaped, 1-2 cm long Phenology Flowers from May to July Notes

The Prickly rose is the floral emblem of Alberta. Ethno-botanical uses: Native peoples believed that placing the rose branches around the home of a deceased person would prevent the ghost from returning and haunting the home.

The Prickly rose is the floral emblem of Alberta. Ethno-botanical uses: Native peoples believed that placing the rose branches around the home of a deceased person would prevent the ghost from returning and haunting the home.

Read More + Range/Distribution Alberta: The foothills, Rocky Mountains and boreal forest CAN (BC, MB, NB, NS, NT, ON, QC, SK, YT); USA (AK, CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NH, NM, NY, RI, SD, VT, WI, WV, WY)