Rose, Carolina

Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina)
Also known as: Pasture Rose, Wild Rose*

Carolina Rose is a charming native shrub rose with single pink blooms, spreading rhizomes, and a modest, low-growing habit that makes it an ideal addition to naturalistic plantings and native hedgerows. Blooming in early summer with fragrant, open-faced flowers, this species supports a broad array of pollinators and wildlife while thriving in a wide range of conditions. Unlike many cultivated roses, Rosa carolina is naturally hardy, disease-resistant, and ecologically beneficial.

Key Characteristics

• Pollinator-Friendly Early Summer Blooms
  Blooming from May through June, Carolina Rose produces 2–3" wide soft pink flowers that are highly attractive to native bees, bumblebees, mason bees, and butterflies. The open structure of the flowers makes nectar and pollen easily accessible to many beneficial insects.

• Wildlife Support – Fruits and Shelter
  After blooming, the plant produces small, round rose hips that persist into winter and provide food for songbirds, game birds, and small mammals. The dense, thorny thickets formed by mature stands offer valuable shelter and nesting habitat for birds and pollinators alike.

• Spreads by Rhizomes – Ideal for Naturalizing
  Carolina Rose spreads slowly by underground rhizomes, forming low-growing colonies that work well for naturalizing in meadows, prairie edges, and open woodlands. It grows to about 2–4 feet tall and fits neatly into the shrub layer of permaculture and native landscape designs.

• Adaptable and Disease-Resistant
  This rose tolerates a wide range of soil types (from sandy to clay) and conditions (including dry to medium-moist soils). It is naturally disease-resistant, needs no spraying, and is significantly more rugged than ornamental rose cultivars.

Product Details

• Native range: Eastern and Central North America

• Plant life cycle: Perennial shrub

• Sun requirements: Full sun to part shade

• Soil requirements: Dry to medium, well-drained

• Mature height: 2–4 feet

• Bloom time: May to June

• Bloom color: Light to medium pink

• USDA Hardiness zones: 4–9

Carolina Rose is a resilient native rose with real ecological value. Its early blooms, winter hips, and modest form make it a powerful addition to wildlife-friendly and restoration-focused landscapes.