Rosa blanda
Smooth rose steals the spotlight in June when its pink petals unfurl to reveal buttery-yellow centres. The vibrantly displayed pollen entices native bees for a visit. After blooms fade in summer, small fruit called rosehips appear. Birds tend to ignore the sour, dry rosehips until cold weather arrives. Freeze-thaw cycles sweeten the fruit to offer over-wintering birds a welcome treat.
Watch for fall-migrating kinglets stopping to eat the small insects they find in these attractive shrubs. In winter, look for cedar waxwings, robins, downy woodpeckers and cardinals browsing the fruit. You may also see common backyard birds such as chickadees, juncos and American tree sparrows resting in the dense branches.
Smooth rose grows about 1.5 m tall. It thrives in full sun and tolerates drought, compaction and salt. Suckers will sprout sometimes many feet away. If desired, let suckers spread to create a thicket. To prevent spreading, gently pull the suckers up and clip them at the base of the plant. Although smooth rose is mostly thorn-less, some clusters of thorns do appear at the base of older canes, and lower canes may have some prickles.
Cluster several together or combine with other shrubs such as grey dogwood and new jersey tea. As spring arrives, you may find ground-nesting savannah or chipping sparrows using them for nesting.