A Sweet Native Species - Nootka Rose.

Here and there, along hillsides and roadsides, one can see the native shrub Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana). This cool plant bursts forth with distinctive pink flowers, generally in May. It can be found from Northern California to southern Alaska.

Here Nootka Rose in the heart of the Willamette Valley.

Nootka Rose is very visible right now as it has recently bloomed in many areas of the valley. With its gorgeous pink flowers that provide a vibrant contrast to the myriad green oval leaves of this cool shrub, it is relatively easy to identify.

The name of the plant is derived from Nootka Sound along the West coast of Vancouver island. Over the years we’ve noticed that Nootka Rose can do well in disturbed sites that may contain invasive plants such as Himalayan Blackberry. Nootka Rose, once established, can persist well in some challenging environments.