Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Rosa minutifolia is a rare species known by the common names Baja rose and small-leafed rose. This is a very spiny, dense shrub native to the chaparral and maritime succulent scrub plant communities of Baja California and barely crossing the border into San Diego County where it's habitat has been almost completely destroyed. It is being propagated at the San Diego Botanic Garden as a conservation measure, and it is grown elsewhere as an ornamental. The branches of the shrub are gray to red-tinted and covered in long and short spines. The shiny toothed leaves are composed of small leaflets only about half a centimeter wide. The blooms are generally bright pink with many yellow-anthered stamens and masses of prickles on the undersides. It is slow growing and individual plants remain fairly compact, unlike other wild roses. Though very drought tolerant, it accepts some summer water and will often bloom in response. It has a very long flowering season; with supplemental water it is essentially year round. It's a good choice for drought tolerant gardens especially in the southern coastal counties.

Plant type

Shrub

Size

1 - 3 ft Tall
3 ft Wide

Form

Rounded

Growth rate

Slow

Dormancy

Summer Semi-deciduous

Fragrance

Pleasant, Slight

Calscape icon
Color

Pink

Flowering season

Spring, Winter

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Very Low, Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 15° F

Soil drainage

Fast, Medium, Slow

Soil description

Typically sandy or derived from sedimentary rock, but also tolerates clay.
Soil PH: 6.5 - 8.0

Site type

Native to coastal bluffs, mesas and foothills where rain is sparse but there is some fog drip year round

Plant communities

Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Maritime Desert Scrub

Birds
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 15 likely

Confirmed Likely

Garden Webworm Moth

Achyra rantalis

Polyphemus moth

Antheraea polyphemus

Painted Tiger Moth

Arachnis picta

Orange Tortrix Moth

Argyrotaenia franciscana