Common Name: Low Prairie Rose

General Information

Rosa arkansana is a prickly deciduous shrub growing from a suckering rootstock; it has openly-branched, erect stems that can grow up to 1.20 metres tall. In the colder parts of its range the stems will usuallt die back to ground level each winter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

There is a layer of hairs around the seeds just beneath the flesh of the fruit. These hairs can cause irritation to the mouth and digestive tract if ingested.

Botanical References

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Range

Mainly in central N. America - British Columbia to Ontario and Maine, south to New Mexico, Texas and Arkansas.

Habitat

Rocky slopes, dry hillsides, prairies, bluffs, open woods, grassy roadsides; at elevations from 200 - 2,100 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Rosa arkansana is a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate temperatures down to around -30°c when fully dormant[]..
Most Rosa species require a sunny position if they are to flourish and flower well. They prefer a circumneutral pH, succeeding in a range of soil texturess so long as they are moist but well-drained[, ]. Prefers a slightly acid soil[].
Rosa arkansana is one of the more invasive indigenous roses in North America, suckering at the roots to form thickets of growth[, ].
Closely related to Rosa acicularis[].
Rose species will often hybridize freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, ]. Also used for making syrups, jellies, jams and tea[, ]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[, ]. Rich in vitamin C[]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[], but there is only a thin layer of flesh surrounding the many seeds[]. Some care has to be taken when eating this fruit, see the notes above on known hazards.

Young shoots - peeled and eaten[].

The flowers, fruits, roots, stem and bark can all be used to make tea[, ]. The tea made from the fruit has a sweet flavour[].

The seed of roses is generally a good source of vitamin E, it can be ground and mixed with powder or added to other foods as a supplement[, ]. Be sure to remove the seed hairs[].

Medicinal

The root is haemostatic, stimulant and tonic[]. A compound decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of bleeding wounds, fits and convulsions[]. the root has been used in the treatment of eye complaints[].

An infusion of the fruit has been used as a wash for inflamed eyes[].

A poultice of the charred, crushed hypertrophied stem growths has been used as a treatment for burns[].

The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Rose species in general grow well with alliums, parsley, mignonette and lupins[, ]. Garlic planted nearby can help protect the plant from disease and insect predation[, ]. Roses often grow badly with boxwood[].

Other Uses

The petals have been used as a perfume for hair oil[].

Propagation

Seed. Rose seed often takes two years to germinate. This is because it may need a warm spell of weather after a cold spell in order to mature the embryo and reduce the seedcoat[]. One possible way to reduce this time is to scarify the seed and then place it for 2 - 3 weeks in damp peat at a temperature of 27 - 32°c (by which time the seed should have imbibed). It is then kept at 3°c for the next 4 months by which time it should be starting to germinate[]. Alternatively, it is possible that seed harvested 'green' (when it is fully developed but before it has dried on the plant) and sown immediately will germinate in the late winter. This method has not as yet(1988) been fully tested[]. Seed sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame sometimes germinates in spring though it may take 18 months. Stored seed can be sown as early in the year as possible and stratified for 6 weeks at 5°c[]. It may take 2 years to germinate[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Plant out in the summer if the plants are more than 25cm tall, otherwise grow on in a cold frame for the winter and plant out in late spring.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July in a shaded frame. Overwinter the plants in the frame and plant out in late spring[]. High percentage[].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth. Select pencil thick shoots in early autumn that are about 20 - 25cm long and plant them in a sheltered position outdoors or in a cold frame[, ]. The cuttings can take 12 months to establish but a high percentage of them normally succeed[].
Division of suckers in the dormant season. Plant them out direct into their permanent positions.
Layering. Takes 12 months[].