Lynn Anderson may have never promised you a rose garden, but growing one in Alaska can be a great addition to any garden, with even the potential to harvest. The Alaskan rose can be seen across large swaths of the state and is represented by several varieties. Most common are the Arctic rose (rosa acicularis) up north, Nootka rose or wild rose (rosa nutkana) in coastal areas, and the Sitka rose, a variety of rosa rugosa that was introduced to Southeast Alaska in the early 20th century. You can tell the Sitka rose quickly after the hips form because they are big and round, tomato-like. Other wild varieties have smaller grape-like rosehips.

Growing roses from seeds tends to be a task not many want to undertake due to the amount of time needed to do so. This is why starting from a cutting might be your best option to ensure it has established itself well enough before the next winter.