This rose is threatened/endangered, so it would be excellent if those who have suitable conditions would grow it.

See list of threatened/endangered native US roses here: http://plants.usda.gov/java/threat?txtparm=rosa&category=sciname&familycategory=all&duration=all&growthhabit=all&wetland=all&statefed=all&sort=sciname&submit.x=61&submit.y=6].

Annual Report of the Minnesota State Hort. Soc. volume 19, p. 170 (1891)
Prof. C. B. Waldron
Agricultural College, Fargo, ND
The roses that grow the most abundant and fruitful are the Rosa blanda and the Rosa Engelmanni. The latter has a large fruit about two and one-half times long as broad, is rather juicy and of a flavor much like the thorn apple [Crataegus coccinea]. The rose hips of both species are eaten readily by the prairie chicken, grouse, antelope and rabbit, the indian also comes in for his share. I have seen this fruit in such quantities over large areas that it would have furnished food for hundreds of sheep.