Description
Rosa caroliniana
CT E P EcoR
Soil: Acidic loam, Sandy, Well-drained
Moisture: Moist to Dry
Light: Full to Part Sun
Plant Height: 1 to 3 feet (up to 5 feet)
Plant Width: 1 to 5 feet
Pests: Rose beetles, Japanese beetles, rose aphids, rose thrips
Landscape Value: Great for pollinator, butterfly and edible gardens. Makes a great hedge.
New this year! A low-growing, upright shrub bearing stems with numerous straight prickles. Showy, fragrant, 2-inch wide pink flowers with yellow centers bloom in early summer and yield fruits, called hips, that turn bright red as they ripen and persist through winter. Can spread by rhizomes (underground stems) and root suckers to form colonies. Tolerates heat and drought. Although one of the most shade-tolerant native roses, flowering and disease resistance is best if grown in full sun with good air circulation. Summer mulch helps retain moisture and keeps roots cool. Remove dead leaves from the ground during the growing season and as part of a fall/winter clean-up. Crowns appreciate protection in cold winters. Prune in late winter to early spring, if needed. Flowers attract bees and butterflies. Rosehips provide food for songbirds, wild turkeys, pheasants, bobwhites, and small mammals. Fruits are tart, high in vitamin C, and can be used to make teas and jelly. Resistant to rose rosette virus.
1 gallon pot, 12-18 inches tall
Photo credits:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (photos by Stephanie Brundage and Julie Makin)
North Carolina State Extension (photo by Malcom Manners)
