When does Nootka rose bloom?

Nootka rose typically flowers from May through July, producing single pink blooms followed by red hips later in the season.

What pollinators visit Nootka rose flowers?

Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Nootka rose blossoms, drawn to the open pink flowers and abundant pollen.

How much sun and water does Nootka rose need?

It grows best in full sun with medium, consistent moisture, though established plants can handle somewhat drier conditions once rooted in.

Does Nootka rose form thickets?

Yes, it spreads by suckering roots and often forms dense, tangled thickets that provide cover for birds and small wildlife.

Is Nootka Rose toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Nootka Rose as toxic to livestock.

Is Nootka Rose HOA-friendly?

Nootka Rose takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Nootka Rose

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Rosa nutkana

Last reviewed: September 2026

Rosa nutkana is a thicket forming shrub rose with fragrant pink flowers that open from May through July. It does best in full sun with medium moisture along streambanks, forest edges, and open slopes in the western United States.

Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Nootka Rose as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

24"–120" H × 36"–96" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AZ, CA, CO, ID and 6 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Southern Rockies

Rosa nutkana is a native wild rose that produces fragrant pink flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by bright red rose hips in fall. This thorny shrub can vary considerably in size and has a somewhat irregular, spreading growth habit typical of wild roses.

Growing Nootka Rose

Grow Nootka Rose in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 120 inches tall and spread 36 to 96 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Nootka Rose takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Very thorny stems pose safety concerns
Irregular growth habit looks too wild for formal landscapes
Can sucker and spread aggressively

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and beetles during blooming season, while the rose hips provide food for birds through fall and winter. The dense, thorny branches also offer nesting sites and protection for small wildlife.

Common questions

When does Nootka rose bloom?: Nootka rose typically flowers from May through July, producing single pink blooms followed by red hips later in the season.
What pollinators visit Nootka rose flowers?: Bees and beetles are the main visitors to Nootka rose blossoms, drawn to the open pink flowers and abundant pollen.
How much sun and water does Nootka rose need?: It grows best in full sun with medium, consistent moisture, though established plants can handle somewhat drier conditions once rooted in.
Does Nootka rose form thickets?: Yes, it spreads by suckering roots and often forms dense, tangled thickets that provide cover for birds and small wildlife.
Is Nootka Rose toxic to dogs?: Nootka Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Nootka Rose toxic to cats?: Nootka Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Nootka Rose toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Nootka Rose as toxic to livestock.
Is Nootka Rose HOA-friendly?: Nootka Rose takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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