About Rosa arkansana Port. & Coult.
Rosa arkansana, commonly called prairie rose or wild prairie rose, is a rose species native to a large area of central North America. Its range stretches between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains, extending south from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan to New Mexico, Texas and Indiana. It has two accepted varieties: Rosa arkansana var. arkansana and Rosa arkansana var. suffulta (Greene) Cockerell. The scientific epithet arkansana comes from the Arkansas River located in Colorado. This species' broad distribution has led to genetic drift, which in turn has resulted in an extensive list of synonyms for the species. Rosa arkansana is a perennial subshrub, and its native habitats include prairies, roadsides, and ditches. The plant attracts butterflies and birds. The common name prairie rose is sometimes also used for Rosa blanda, another rose species known as meadow rose or smooth rose. Rosa blanda is also widely distributed, and occurs somewhat further north than Rosa arkansana. Rosa arkansana is grown as an ornamental plant, and it has become naturalized in parts of Massachusetts, New York, and North Dakota.
