Rosa acicularis is a deciduous shrub growing 1โ3 m tall. The leaves are pinnate, 7โ14 cm long, with three to seven leaflets. The leaflets are ovate, with serrate (toothed) margins. The flowers are pink (rarely white), 3.5โ5 cm diameter; the hips are red, pear-shaped to ovoid, 10โ15 mm diameter.