A low bush, rarely more than 2 ft high, freely suckering, with erect, often reddish stems, densely furnished with prickly bristles. Leaves 2 to 3 in. long, very shining green, becoming purplish red in autumn; stipules with glandular-toothed margins. Leaflets five to nine, narrow oblong, tapering at both ends, from 1⁄2 in. to 11⁄4 in. long, one-quarter to one-third as wide, finely and sharply toothed, glabrous all over, and of firm texture. Flowers bright rosy red, 2 to 21⁄2 in. across, usually solitary, occasionally two to three together; flower-stalks and sepals bristly or glandular, the latter entire, lanceolate, and reflexed. Fruits globose, 1⁄3 in. wide, scarlet, bristly, with the sepals fallen away.
Native of eastern N. America; introduced in 1807. A charming little rose, very distinct among dwarf kinds by its shining, narrow leaflets, its very prickly stems, and highly coloured flowers. The leaves turn bright red in autumn.