WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Rosa woodsii subsp. ultramontana, WUCOLS IV

How often to water mountain wood rose in California

In July in the Central Valley, established mountain wood rose in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 8.8 gallons each time for a plant 4 feet across, about 7.6 gallons a week. Mountain wood rose is a deciduous native rose of moist places and rocky soils at mid to high elevations, mostly east of the Sierra and Cascades. It grows 3 to 8 feet tall and wide on thorny stems. Clusters of small, fragrant, pink flowers with yellow centers open in summer, followed by large red hips. It wants good air circulation and some summer water.

ShrubCalifornia nativeRated for 4 of 6 zones

How often to water mountain wood rose, month by month

Your city
Plant width
4 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for mountain wood rose and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure plant width

A shrub with its width marked from one side to the other and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the plant, from the tips of the leaves on one side to the tips on the other.

Water the whole area the plant covers, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that area.

A wider plant means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While it is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Leaves on mountain wood rose wilting in afternoon heat while the soil is dry a few inches down mean it needs water
  • Leaves scorching in full inland sun point to a need for afternoon shade
  • Spotted or powdery leaves in still, damp air point to poor air flow, not thirst
  • Yellowing leaves on soil that stays soggy point to poor drainage

How to water it

  • Water deeply at the base when the soil dries a few inches down
  • Plant in cool sun or part shade, with afternoon shade in hot-summer areas
  • Give it room so air moves freely around the canes
  • Use well-drained soil and keep water off the leaves
  • Leave hips on the plant for birds into winter

Through the seasons

Water a new plant regularly through its first summer. Established plants still need some summer water, especially inland, where part shade helps. It drops its leaves in fall and needs little water while bare. Flowers come in summer, and large hips follow. WUCOLS rates mountain wood rose moderate water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley and in the high desert. South Inland carries a low water rating. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the south coast or the low desert.

In pots

Mountain wood rose can grow in a large container for a few years in a spot with morning sun. Use a well-drained mix with compost. Water when the top couple of inches dry, until it drains out. In summer heat, check every day or two. Empty the saucer after each watering. Leave space around the pot for air flow. While it is bare in winter, water only when the mix dries.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.761.52.33.00.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Mountain Wood Rose: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.4–0.310.74–
Feb0.530.65–0.350.93–
Mar0.871.09–0.521.46–
Apr1.181.52–0.641.89–
May1.462.08–0.782.39–
Jun1.612.48–0.922.85–
Jul1.612.67–13.04–
Aug1.492.39–0.932.79–
Sep1.241.8–0.742.14–
Oct0.871.18–0.531.46–
Nov0.470.56–0.360.93–
Dec0.310.34–0.270.65–
Year1217.11–7.3721.27–

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like mountain wood rose. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

RosesRosa hybrids..bushmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAzaleasRhododendron spp. (CA native and non-native spp.)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyCamelliasCamellia japonica (SHADE IN DESERT)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyGardeniasGardenia spp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBird of ParadiseStrelitzia reginae (shade in desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyHibiscusHibiscus rosa-sinensismoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySago PalmCycas revolutamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyStar JasmineTrachelospermum jasminoides and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyArborvitaeThuja occidentalis ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBambooBambusa spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyLilacsSyringa hybrids (including Descanso hybrids)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySpireaSpiraea spp. (CA native and non native spp.)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyButterfly BushBuddleja davidii and hybridsmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulySageSalvia officinalis and cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed BuckeyeAesculus paviamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyWestern ServiceberryAmelanchier alnifoliamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than mountain wood rose in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

LavenderLavandula spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRosemaryRosmarinus officinalislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBougainvilleaBougainvillea & spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyOlive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyLantanaLantana camara ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySalviaSalvia greggii ssp., cvs. & hybridslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySucculentsEcheveria spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyRussian SagePerovskia spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySagebrushArtemisia spp. (shrubby)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyWild PrivetLigustrum vulgarelow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCoralberrySymphoricarpos orbiculatus (SHADE)low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySydney Golden WattleAcacia longifolialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBlue Leaf WattleAcacia salignalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes mountain wood rose, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water mountain wood rose in summer?

In July, established mountain wood rose in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley and about every 22 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does mountain wood rose need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established mountain wood rose needs about 1.1 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across and about 4.3 gallons a day for a plant 8 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for mountain wood rose change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates mountain wood rose separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, low water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Are mountain wood rose hips good for tea?

Yes, the large hips make excellent tea. The petals are fragrant and good for potpourri. Leave some hips for birds.

Where does mountain wood rose grow wild?

It grows high in the mountains, mostly on the east side of the Sierra and Cascades. Its range runs from California to British Columbia. It favors moist places and rocky soils.

Does mountain wood rose need shade?

In hot interior gardens, give it part shade. At higher elevations or near the coast, give it sun and good air flow. Either way it needs some summer water.

Are the thorns bad?

The stems are well armed. The thorns are straight, so they do not hook clothing as badly as some wild roses. Wear gloves when pruning.

Is mountain wood rose good for birds?

Yes, it is an excellent bird plant. The hips feed birds after the flowers fade. It suits habitat gardens.

More plant watering guides

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Sources