Originally published in the April 2015 issue of the WildFlower News
Family: Rosaceae
Scientific name: Rosa arkansana
Common names: prairie rose, Arkansas rose, sunshine rose, low prairie rose, and prairie wild rose
While volunteering at the Old Man Creek Nursery this year, I found a beautiful rose that was a short shrub, only a few inches tall. See how the petals have darker veins than the rest of the leaf – this is one way to tell a Prairie rose from others in Alberta.
The Prairie rose can grow in almost any conditions but they prefer moist soil, sunny to semi-shade location, and a pH of 6.5 - 7.5. They don't like to be waterlogged.
They will easily cross with other roses, so my front yard is a good location as there are no roses in any front yards on this block. They also have very deep roots and tend to sucker.
Cherry suggested I wait until fall to transplant, so I waited. When it came time to take a plant home, a group of us went and found an area that was going to be rototilled. However, we found that most of the plants had black spot, which I did not want to bring home! After talking to the group, I decided that I would try to propagate the rose from seed. So, here goes... (fingers crossed...)!
Propagation Technique used: Scarification (October, 2014)
I picked a couple ripe (not dry) rose hips from shrubs that weren't exhibiting black spot. At home, I removed all the seeds from the hips, placed seeds and hips in a glass of clean water, and fermented them for a few days (4 or 5) on a window sill stirring them every day to prevent mould.
They start to smell like alcohol when they are fermenting. The seeds have a coating that prevents them from sprouting until the right conditions are met. Fermenting removes the seed coating.
I checked they have fermented enough before I threw out the water they were in by testing to see if they were still slippery – if they are too slippery they aren't done so put them back in the water and in the window for a couple more days.
I gave the seeds a thorough rinse using a kitchen strainer. Then I rubbed individual seeds against a medium grain sand paper to scarify. Some people say you can also use a knife to scar them (but I'm not brave enough!) This seed is sitting on the sandpaper.
Cold Stratification – 60 days (started October 31, 2014)
I placed all the seeds (not touching) between 2 pieces of filter paper. (Paper towel is a bad idea as the seeds stick to it.) I then moistened the filter paper and placed in a zip- lock bag. I moved the seeds to the kitchen fridge, behind the vegetable trays. I removed the vegetable trays, put the seeds in a smaller container and put the container behind the trays to keep them safe. (There is a decent sized space back there!) Keep watch to make sure they aren't sprouting, they are moist, and there is no ice build up. (If they sprout plant them immediately, regardless of where you are at in the process...)
Warm Stratification – 60 to 90 days (started December 29, 2014)
I cleaned out the container and put in new filters. Then I moved the seeds to the warm location (I used a seed mat). This site needs a lot more attention to moisture, as it is about +26 C during the day and about +20 C at night.
As moisture did become a problem, I put the seeds in a tray of soil.
Final Cold Stratification – 60 days (started March 28, 2015 outdoors)
Cherry gave a talk at the Edmonton Nature Club meeting on March 16. She said that she cold stratifies in the garden by putting the plants in a pot under the snow. This makes a lot more sense to me than trying to cold stratify my tray in the fridge. So yesterday, I moved the tray outside and put a bunch of snow on top. (OK, not the best day to do it, the snow all melted and I had to go back out today and add more snow.)
So, cross my fingers and wait for spring.
Note from Wildflower News: Vivienne, this is quite the long term undertaking and we do hope youʼll keep us informed on further developments with your project!
Bibliography
Dodd, Cherry., and the rest of the Old Man Creek Nursery volunteers.
Budd, A. C., Jan Looman, and Keith F. Best. Budd's Flora of the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Ottawa: Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, 1979. Print.
"Edmonton Naturalization Group - Fort Saskatchewan Prairie." Edmonton Naturalization Group - Fort Saskatchewan Prairie. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2015. <http://edmontonnativeplantgroup.org/photos/Fort%20Saskatchewan%20Prairie>.
"How to Grow Roses from Seed." WikiHow. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-Roses-from-Seed >. "Overcoming Seed Dormancy: Trees and Shrubs." Overcoming Seed Dormancy: Trees and Shrubs. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.
"Rosa Arkansana Low Prairie Rose PFAF Plant Database." Rosa Arkansana Low Prairie Rose PFAF Plant Database. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. arkansana >.
"Rosa Arkansana: Prairie Rose Seeds." TreeHelp.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://www.treehelp.com/prairie-rose-seeds/>.
"Rosa Arkansana (Prairie Wild Rose)." Prairie Moon Nursery. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <https://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/ trees-shrubs-vines/rosa-arkansana-prairie-wild-rose.html?printable=Y >.
Royer, France, and Richard Dickinson. Plants of Alberta: Trees, Shrubs, Wildflowers, Ferns, Aquatic Plants & Grasses. Edmonton: Lone Pine Pub., 2007. Print.
"Seed Scarification, Seed Stratification & Seed Soaking : MrBrownThumb." Seed Scarification, Seed Stratification & Seed Soaking : MrBrownThumb. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <http://mrbrownthumb.blogspot.ca/2011/05/seed-scarification-seed- stratification.html >
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