(Rosa minutifolia)
Baja rose is a California endangered plant species, which means that killing or possession of plants collected from the wild is prohibited by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Baja rose is also listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. This species is a dense perennial shrub primarily located in chapparal communities in San Diego County, as well as northern Baja California, Mexico. Wild populations in California have become extirpated and reintroduced in some areas, and the species has also been in the nursery trade. Baja rose has[BJ1] gray branches adorned in prickles, bright green toothed leaflets, and generally 1-flowered inflorescences with pink petals. The discovery of this rose in April 1882 caused some controversy in the botany community due to a disagreement on who was the first to spot the Baja rose on an expedition from San Diego through northern Baja California. Marcus Eugene Jones was a budding botanist at the time who was convinced that his discovery of the rose was stolen by esteemed botanist Charles Christopher Parry; this disagreement became the topic of many exchanged letters and recounts of the events following the expedition. Ultimately both names were included in the official description of the species, though Jones reputation was given a negative connotation due to of the events of this trip.
Baja rose occurs on the Otay Mesa in San Diego County, and its range extends south into Baja California Norte, Mexico. It is a common member of the coastal shrub community in northern Baja California, and chapparal communities in San Diego county. The most prevalent threats to the Baja rose in California is urban development, human intrusion and disturbance, agricultural encroachment, and competition with invasive plant species.
The natural population of Baja rose on Otay Mesa was destroyed for housing development, however some plants were transplanted and are presumed to remain extant in California.
CDFW may issue permits for Baja rose pursuant to CESA, and you can learn more about the California laws protecting Baja rose and other California native plants. Populations of Baja rose occur in CDFW’s South Coast Region. More information is also available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species Profile for Baja rose.