Carolina Rose | Plant Profile

Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina) are small deciduous shrubs that are native to the American midwest. They can naturally be found in glades, prairies, and along roadsides. The small pink flowers do not resemble those of the commonly thought of rose. The foliage is dark green with thorns along the stems.

Carolina Rose prefers average fertility, medium to wet, well drained soils in full sun. Remove and clean up dead or diseased leaves and flower heads to protect from further disease and promote new growth. These shrubs may need protection from the cold Pennsylvania winters. They propagate via basal shoots, or root suckers, that extend from the base of the plant and eventually form colonies. Remove the shoots to prevent overgrowth.

Carolina Rose are beautiful additions to rose gardens, pollinator gardens, and naturalized areas. They can be aligned to create showy shrub borders.