Ground rose facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ground rose
Scientific classification
Genus:	Rosa
Species:	spithamea

The Ground Rose (Rosa spithamea) is a special type of rose plant. It's also called the Coast Ground Rose. This plant is found naturally in Oregon and California, USA. It likes to grow in forests and in areas called chaparral. Chaparral is a type of habitat with tough, woody shrubs. You often see the Ground Rose growing in places that have recently had wildfires.

What Does the Ground Rose Look Like?

The Ground Rose is a small shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It usually grows to be less than half a meter (about 1.5 feet) tall. Its stem has many small, sharp points called prickles.

The leaves of the Ground Rose are interesting. Each leaf is made up of several smaller, oval-shaped pieces called leaflets. These leaflets have tiny "teeth" along their edges. The leaflet at the very end of the leaf can be up to 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. The leaves also feel a bit sticky because they are "glandular," meaning they have tiny glands that produce a sticky substance.

Flowers and Fruit

The Ground Rose produces pretty pink flowers. These flowers grow in a cluster called a cyme, which can have up to 10 flowers. Each flower has petals that are about 1.5 centimeters (about 0.6 inches) long.

After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a small, round fruit called a rose hip. This rose hip is about 1 centimeter (about 0.4 inches) wide. Rose hips are often eaten by birds and other animals.

Where Does the Ground Rose Grow?

This rose species is native to parts of Oregon and California. It thrives in specific environments:

• Forests: It can be found growing on the forest floor.
• Chaparral: This is a dry habitat with many shrubs and small trees.
• Burned Areas: The Ground Rose is especially good at growing in places that have recently been burned by wildfires. This is because the fire can clear out other plants, giving the rose more space and sunlight to grow.