By Nick Miller

Artwork By Lil B

THOOOOOOORNS, I do not like THORNS. I normally won’t deal with plants that have thorns. I will, however, make an exception for an exceptional plant. Woods Rose is one of those exceptional plants that I love, besides it being covered with my arch nemesis………THORNS. They have lovely pink flowers that can range in various shades of pink. I appreciate the messy, chaotic look of them. I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face when I see some woods rose out in the wild, even with all the thorns. Our feathered and furry friends out in our parks love the woods rose for the rose hips it creates. These rose hips are super tasty for our park critters and are super important during the winter months as a treat when the ground is covered in snow. Plant this thorny delight with caution, as it’s a voracious spreader but is great for erosion control and for creating habitat. These are currently being planted in various natural area parks to support restoration efforts. One of my favorite places to find woods rose is in Riverfront Park, right off the trails.  

Habitat: Broad range of conditions from wetlands to dry grassy slopes and everything in between. 

Blooms: May-July 

Mature Size: 3-6 ft 

 If you love the chaotic beauty and natural charm of plants like the Woods Rose, I highly recommend Kelly Norris's book Plants with Style. It’s full of inspiration for creating landscapes that embrace a more natural, habitat-friendly style while still looking intentional and beautiful. It’s one of my favorite reads for anyone interested in creating their own style with planting, creating connection, and designing with nature in mind. 

Originally printed in the July 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Never miss an issue, check out SLM's digital editions here! 

related articles: