Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa
Cluster or pea rose, Cluster Or Pea Rose
Photo: parent species Rosa pisocarpa · no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa (Cluster or pea rose) is a native California subshrub in the Rosaceae family, recognized by . Key features: few/no prickles, clustered flowers, small round fruits, glandless single-toothed leaflets.
Cluster rose is a California native shrub found in northwestern California and the California Cascade Range in generally moist areas at elevations of 30 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in clusters of 3 to 10 blossoms. Growing 1 to 2.5 meters tall with paired prickles at stem nodes and green to reddish branches, it forms a dense woodland or streamside thicket. Its compound leaves have 5 to 9 leaflets, with the terminal leaflet 15 to 35 millimeters long, dark green and slightly textured. The fruit is a small spherical rose hip approximately 7 to 10 millimeters wide with a narrow neck.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 17 sympatric species. Key features: few/no prickles, clustered flowers, small round fruits, glandless single-toothed leaflets.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Generally +- moist areas
Elevation: 30-2100 m
California counties: Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Butte, Trinity
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa blooms May-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Camellia: Rosa has compound leaves with multiple leaflets; Camellia has single undivided glossy leaves.; vs Carpenteria: Rosa has thorny stems and compound leaves; Carpenteria is thornless with simple opposite leaves.; vs Hibiscus: Rosa has compound leaves and thorny stems; Hibiscus has simple palmate leaves, thornless.; vs Dahlia: Rosa is woody with thorns; Dahlia is herbaceous without thorns.; vs Cistus: Rosa has compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets; Cistus has simple undivided leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa native to California?
Yes. Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa bloom?
Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa grow?
Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa occurs in Del Norte, Siskiyou, Humboldt, Butte, Trinity, at elevations of 30-2100 m.
What plant family does Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa belong to?
Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa is in the Rosaceae family, genus Rosa.
What habitat does Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa grow in?
Rosa pisocarpa subsp. pisocarpa grows in Generally +- moist areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.