Rosa woodsii, June 16, 2021
R. woodsii in fruit, Lincoln Creek, 9,600’, August 19, 2021
Common & scientific name
Wood’s rose, Rosa woodsii
Family
Rose, Rosaceae
Location
Difficult Campground, 8,200’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
There are few flowers that cry for attention like Wood’s rose, between its swoony smell and showy flowers ranging in color from light pink to deep magenta. Found most often on the Pass in Aspen groves or roadside, its fruits (“rose hips”) are known for their nutritional value and high vitamin c content, but I’ve generally found them to have a mealy texture and bland taste. I am grateful to the Southwest Colorado Wildflowers website for suggesting they are best eaten after several frosts!
R. woodsii, roadside 8,900’, June 22, 2021