So, which plants are our roses?
It might surprise you that these plants are "roses" at all. Here I share 10 of our native rose family species, and some highlights of their qualities. These can easily be purchased for use in your landscape:
Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa): Delicate pure-white 5-petaled flowers in spring, followed by showy pink seed "tails" which remain on the plant for much of our warm season. Produce a second bloom after summer rains. Should be planted in areas where it can grow "wild" and spread. It doesn't lend well to manicured situations. Shrub to 6'. Evergreen to semi-deciduous.
Arizona Rosewood (Vauquelinia californca): White flowers with 5 rounded petals in flat-toppped terminal clusters. These produce hard woody seed capsules which split into 5 sections and remain througn the winter. Leaves are leathery. Bark is gray to reddish brown and becomes shaggy. Slow growing to 25'. Evergreen. Wood is very hard and heavy.
Common Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana): The old individuals of our native chokecherry have distinctive scaly bark. It is shiny and reddish-brown when plants are young. The flowers are white with 5 rounded petals, and are produced in cylindrical clusters that grow to 4" in length. Flowers are followed by shiny dark red to black juicy bitter cherries that are relished by birds. Shrub or small tree to 25'. Deciduous. Leaves can be quite colorful - yellow to orange, peach-colored in the fall.
Cliffrose (Cowania mexicana): Delicate creamy-white to yellowish 5-petaled flowers produced in profusion in spring, and in response to summer rains -- flowers are very fragrant. Flowers are followed by 5-10, 1/4" long fruits -- each with a feathery plume attached. Bark is reddish brown, and in older plants, shreds. Shrub to 8' (or small tree in some localities). Leaves are small, leathery, and very glandular. Evergreen.
Wood's Rose (Rosa woodsii): Delicate 5 wavy-petaled pink flowers with a sweet fragrance are produced May - June. Flowers are followed by brilliant red rose hips, which are edible and eaten by birds and other wildlife. A plant for partly shady, somewhat moist situations - in the wild they grow in riparian areas and among Ponderosa Pine. Plants form large clusters, and grow to 7'. Deciduous - leaves turn a lovely variety of yellows and oranges in the fall.
Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria millefolium): The delicate but sticky fern-like foliage of this tough species will surprise you. Bark is reddish, and creamy-colored 4" spikes of flowers are produced in summer -- at ends of branches.Shrub to 6'. Evergreen to semi-deciduous.
Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus and ledifolius are available): Small, yellow-green, petalless, inconspicuous flowers; they are very fragrant. Bloom in spring, but often more than once in a season. Produce unique, twisted 3" fuzzy seed "tails" that shine silvery when back-lit. Shrub to 10', hardwood, semi-deciduous.
Mountain Spray, Rock Spirea (Holodicus dumosus): Flowers are creamy-white and produced in spikelike terminal clusters, which are followed by small dry brown seed case. . Bloom June-September, but most bloom in the spring. Grows to 8' tall. Deciduous. Dried blooms remain into fall and winter. Plants of rocky slopes, ponderosa pine and sruce clearning -- need supplemental irrigation. A plant for filtered or morning sun. Grows to 8'. Deciduous.
Potentilla, Bush Cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa is most available of the Potentillas): A profusion of bright yellow 5-petaled flowers are produced over a long blooming period during warm months. Native to pine forest, streamsides and moist areas, so will need supplemental irrigation. Grows to 3' .Semi-deciduous.
Utah Serviceberry (Amalanchier utahensis): Flowers are produced April - May; they are white with 5 long narrow petals. These produce small applelike fruits which mature to a bluish-purple; these are edible. Shrub or small tree to 15'. Deciduous.
And these are just the ones that are readily available!
Also remember a rose the next time you eat tasty raspberries and blackberries -- yes, we do have native species of these in Arizona. Watch for them in our riparian areas, these do require ample water to thrive.
Nichole Trushell
nichole@morganlandscapes.com
