The crossword answer for "prickly shrubs of the rose family" can be several possibilities depending on the exact clue and letter count. Common answers include:

• HAWTHORN (8 letters)
• BRAMBLE (7 letters), especially referring to blackberry plants
• BRIAR (5 letters)
• RASPBERRY (9 letters)
• SLOE (4 letters), a thorny Eurasian bush with plumlike fruits

These are all prickly shrubs belonging to the rose family used frequently in crossword puzzles.