In early July the lupines are fading, the beardtongue is past its best, and the lance-leaved coreopsis has just peaked. Coming along to replace them are New Jersey Tea, Black-eyed Susan, Pearly Everlasting, and roses such as Climbing Prairie Rose, Rosa setigera.

Climbing Prairie Rose

This is probably not a rose for most urban gardens, as it sends out long, prickly climbing stems which can root and form new plants, so it would look messy in a manicured city garden. In a natural setting it makes an interesting alternative to other native roses. It has a bloom which is even more simple, open, and pale than Pasture Rose, Rosa carolina. The flowers are fragrant and fade to become almost white with age.

Climbing Prairie Rose in bloom

My particular interest in this species comes from the writings of the pioneer naturalist, Catherine Parr Traill, who said that it was abundant and covered some of the banks leading down to Rice Lake. This is curious, as it is now confined to the extreme south-west of Ontario such as Essex county. It is classified by COSWEIC as being off Special Concern in Canada, but it is widespread in the USA.

Climbing Prairie Rose, unlike most roses, is dioecious. Male and female flowers are on separate plants, but the male and female flowers are difficult to tell apart. Fruit, in the form of bright red rosehips, is only produced by female plants which have received pollen from a male flower.

It is commercially available and easy to grow. It does not require much water, and will tolerate part shade as well as full sun. It grows in any type of soil.  Many birds enjoy the showy, red hips, and it attracts bees.