Rosa woodsii subsp. gratissima

Mojave rose, Mojave Rose

Family: Rosaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Mojave rose is a California native shrub found in desert regions at elevations where pinyon-juniper woodlands transition to arid landscapes. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate pink to light rose-colored flowers that emerge singly or in small clusters of 1 to 3 blooms. Growing with densely branched stems up to 1 to 2 meters tall, it is characterized by numerous prickles that are 2 to 10 millimeters long, often with thick bases and frequently present throughout its branching structure. Its leaves are compound with multiple leaflets, typical of rose species, providing a textural green backdrop to its soft floral display. The plant produces ovoid to spheric fruits that develop after flowering, contributing to its robust desert adaptations.

California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Kern, Fresno, Ventura, Mono, Tulare, Tuolumne, Madera

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.