Native Plants
Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Rosa virginiana
Rosa virginiana Mill.
Virginia Rose
Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ROVI2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)
The hairy stems of this bushy shrub have scattered, stout, curved thorns, pink flowers and pinnately compound leaves.
Numerous species of roses occur in a variety sites, from dry uplands to wetlands and sand dunes. Their fruit, the rose hips, is rich in vitamin C, and can be eaten, made into jams, or steeped to make rose hips tea. Another pink species, this one of wet sites, is Swamp Rose (R. palustris), which grows to 7' (2.1 m), has flowers 1 1/2-2 1/2 (3.8-6.3 cm) wide, very narrow stipules, and stout, hooked thorns. Pasture Rose (R. carolina) is a shorter shrub, not more than 3' (90 cm) tall, with pink flowers, dull green leaves, very narrow stipules, and straight thorns. It is found in dry pastures and open woods throughout most of eastern North America.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall, often shorter.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Red hip (mature floral tube) surrounding achenes.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , Yellow , PurpleBloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: AL , CT , DC , DE , GA , IL , MA , MD , ME , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , PA , RI , TN , VA , VTCanada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Southern Ontario to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia; south to Virginia and North Carolina; west to Alabama, Tennessee, and Missouri.
Native Habitat: Clearings, thickets, and shores.
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Low
Benefit
Use Food: The fruit, known as hips, contains Vitamin C and can be used to make tea and jelly. (Clough)Warning: Plant has thorns or prickles.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Value to Beneficial Insects
Special Value to Native BeesSpecial Value to Bumble Bees
Provides Nesting Materials/Structure for Native Bees
This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FAC | FAC | FAC |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Rosa virginiana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Rosa virginiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Rosa virginiana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-11Research By: TWC Staff