Common Wild Rose Rosa virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROH-sah ver-jin-ee-AY-nah
- Description
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Virginia rose is a woody, deciduous, perennial shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is native to eastern North America and rapidly grows 4 to 6 feet tall.
Virginia rose likes full sun to partial shade and sandy or loamy, acidic to neutral soil with good drainage. It is salt resistant. Propagate this rose by seed or stem cutting. Its pink flowers bloom from June to August, and the stems have numerous hooked prickles. The leaves turn color in the fall. Look here for a guide to pruning shrub roses.
This easy-to-grow rose provides food for wildlife. It attracts songbirds, bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Use it in a native or pollinator garden. Its salt tolerance makes it a good choice in coastal areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Blackspot, powdery mildew, aphids, thrips, and mites.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rosa
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. Rose hips are edible.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Rose hips can be used to make jellies and jams.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Rose
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Edible shiny scarlet hips that persist into winter
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Saucer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2 to 2.5 in. single pale pink flowers with yellow stamens in summer, usually from June into August. 5 petals each
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnate compound leaves with 7-9 glossy green leaflets 1" to 2.5" long. Purple to red-orange to yellow fall foliage.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish canes with curved prickles
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Salt
- Problems:
- Spines/Thorns
