Virginia rose is a deciduous suckering shrub native to eastern North America, reaching about 2 metres with pink summer flowers and bright red, edible hips. It spreads by suckers and tolerates a range of conditions, making it an easy wild rose for gardens with space.
Family
Rosaceae (Rose family)
Grows as
Shrub, Perennial
Light
Full sun, Part shade
Water
Water regularly during the first season, then only in long dry spells.
Soil
Average, well-drained garden soil; tolerates poor and moist soils.
Temperature
Hardy to around -30 °C; suited to cold temperate climates.
How easy
Easy
Safety
Not known to be toxic
Edible
Yes, some parts
Native range
E. Canada to E. U.S.A.
Climate
temperate
About
Rosa virginiana, commonly known as the Virginia rose, common wild rose or prairie rose, is a woody perennial in the rose family native to eastern North America, where it is the most common wild rose. It is deciduous, forming a suckering shrub up to 2 metres in height, though often less. The stems are covered in numerous hooked prickles. The leaves are pinnate, usually with between 7 and 9 glossy leaflets. The pink flowers are borne singly or in small clusters and appear over a long period in midsummer. The fruits are small, round and bright red, rich in vitamin C and edible, being both used to make jams and tea. It grows in clearings, thickets, and shores. The plant attracts birds, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Rosa virginiana by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.