Small-leaved rose
Rosa minutifolia
Last reviewed: October 2026
Small-leaved rose (Rosa minutifolia) is a perennial shrub native to CA. It blooms in March and April. The flowers draw bees.
Small-leaved rose (Rosa minutifolia) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
18"–48" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr
Native to
CA
Pollinators
bees
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 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Small-leaved rose.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
A small, densely thorny wild rose called small-leaved rose, with tiny leaflets and solitary pink flowers in early spring, followed by small red hips. Its thicket-forming, thorny habit is naturally informal.
Growing Small-leaved rose
Grow Small-leaved rose in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 18 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Spring flowers support native bees, and the hips that follow provide food for birds through fall.
Common questions
- How much sun does Small-leaved rose need?
- Small-leaved rose grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Small-leaved rose bloom?
- Small-leaved rose blooms in March and April.
- Where is Small-leaved rose native?
- Small-leaved rose (Rosa minutifolia) is native to CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Small-leaved rose toxic to dogs?
- Small-leaved rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Small-leaved rose toxic to cats?
- Small-leaved rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- What pollinators does Small-leaved rose attract?
- Small-leaved rose draws bees.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. 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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Small-leaved rose? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.