Nootka rose reaches its maximum height within 10 years. Stems and branches are prickly to unarmed. Leaves are compound and have five to seven leaflets. The fruits contain several long, hairy achenes.
Roots are deep.
Nootka rose attains sexual maturity at 2 to 5 years of age. Good seed crops are produced about every other year. Nootka rose is a seedbanking species. Seeds exhibit seedcoat dormancy and require a combination of warm and cold stratification or mechanical disturbance for germination. Nootka rose is commonly found in moderately dry to moist climates in submontane to montane zones.