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Native Roses: The Wild Roses of North America (and Why They Belong in Your Garden)

Close-up of a pink Nootka rose (Rosa nutkana) bloom with green leaves
Photo Credit
Larry Eiden
Botanical Name
Rosa spp.
Plant Type
Perennial Flowers
Shrubs and Bushes
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Pink
White
Hardiness Zone
Varies
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Songbirds
Attracts Bees
Attracts Pollinators

What Are Native Roses, and Where Are Roses Actually Native To?

Written By: Lauren Landers Master Gardener and Contributing Writer

I’m wild about native roses—and for good reason. These hardy wild roses grow naturally across North America, supporting pollinators. However, most of the roses you’ll find at garden centers are hybrids; they don’t offer many benefits to wildlife and can be quite fussy in the garden. This guide will introduce you to some of North America’s top native roses — far easy to keep and plants that are easier to keep and far more rewarding to grow.

Are Roses Native to North America?

Yes! While many modern roses trace their origins to Asia and Europe, North America is home to roughly 35 species of native roses. Often called wild roses, these plants are adapted to local climates, evolved alongside native insects and birds, and require far less care than hybrid varieties.

Native roses can be found growing in sunny meadows and fields, prairies, woodlands, deserts, and even along busy roadways. They vary in size and bloom time and may grow as upright shrubs or climbing vines. Many share a similar look: single-petaled pink flowers, a brief but beautiful summer bloom, and edible rosehips that persist into fall and winter.

Pink swamp rose (Rosa palustris) flowers blooming on a native shrub
Swamp rose is one of many native species that grow naturally across North America. Credit: Mizy

Plants Commonly Mistaken for Native Roses

Because the word rose appears in so many plant names, it’s easy to assume that all “roses” are related—or native. One of the most common points of confusion is rose of Sharon.

Is Rose of Sharon Native?

Despite its name, rose of Sharon is not a true rose and is not native to North America. It’s actually a type of hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus) native to East Asia. While widely planted, it doesn’t provide the same ecological benefits as native rose species.

Why Native Roses Are Easier (and Better for Wildlife)

If you’ve grown roses in the past, you know that it can be a chemically intensive job. Many non-native and hybrid roses are vulnerable to pests and diseases, requiring frequent applications of fungicides and pesticides. Native roses, on the other hand, are naturally resistant to most common rose ailments and typically need far less water, fertilizer, and pruning to thrive.

Native roses also lack the aggressive, invasive tendencies of non-native plants such as multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora), sweetbriar rose, and beach rose—plants that can spread rapidly and disrupt local ecosystems.

I’ve been growing native roses for years now, and I’m particularly enthralled by their ability to support wildlife. Many species serve as host plants for butterflies and moths, their hollow stems provide winter habitat for stem-nesting bees, and their rosehips attract turkeys, quail, and songbirds during the colder months. 

At the same time, native roses offer plenty of ornamental appeal, working beautifully as hedges, backdrops for lower-growing perennials, and natural additions to cottage gardens and traditional landscapes alike—often in spaces where non-native roses once dominated.

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Planting

Sourcing native roses can be a little tricky, as they are harder to come by than their non-native cousins. I usually have the best luck finding them at native plant nurseries or by ordering bare-root plants online or from specialty seed catalogues. However, when your native roses arrive, you can use the same basic planting process that you’d use for any other roses. (See our complete rose growing guide for general rose care tips.)

When to Plant Native Roses

Bare root native roses grow best when they’re planted in early spring, while potted native roses can be planted in spring or fall—but at least 4 weeks before frost is expected in your area.

How to Plant Native Roses

  • Find a good growing spot
    Native roses grow best in full to part sun locations with rich, well-draining soil. Some roses tolerate more shade and damp conditions than others, so it’s wise to do a bit of research before purchasing native roses for your garden.
     
  • Dig a planting hole
    Dig a hole that’s as deep as the rose’s root ball and about twice as wide. Amend the excavated soil with compost or aged manure for extra nutrients, and soak the roots of bare root roses before planting.’
     
  • Plant the roses
    Gently tease apart potted rose roots to keep the roots from circling, and plant the roses at the same depth they were growing in their nursery pot. Bare-root roses should be planted so that the area where the plant’s stems and roots meet is about 2 inches below the soil line
     
  • Space plants properly: The amount of space native roses need varies by species. Shrub roses often need at least 3 feet of space; climbing roses are typically planted 4 to 6 feet apart, but roses grown in hedgerows may be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart.
     
  • Add mulch and water: Firm soil around the base of your plants, add mulch to keep weeds from encroaching, and water deeply to help your new roses settle in.

Growing

Once established, native roses are remarkably easy plants to live with. Only about 1 to 2% of the roses that are sold to home growers are native plants, but native roses make a big difference in the garden. 

Because these plants evolved alongside local pollinators, they provide greater support to native bees, butterflies, and other insects. And while their flowers may be a little smaller, they often produce more rosehips for eating and wild birds, and native rose foliage is more likely to change into bright shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn for extra interest.

The size of native roses varies depending on the type of plant you’re growing, but most grow to about 3 to 5-feet in height and can be used as backdrop or specimen plants in the garden. Native roses also do well in large-scale plantings, hedgerows, and naturalized areas that need a little more color.

When purchasing roses for your garden, avoid invasive species such as multiflora rose, which look a lot like native plants but can cause significant damage. Not only are native roses a good replacement for invasive roses, but they are also a good alternative to other invasive plants, like barberry. Examining the thorn, leaf, and flower shapes of rose plants is the best way to distinguish invasive roses from native ones.

Water
Newly planted native roses should be watered regularly during their first growing season to help the roots establish. After that, you’ll only need to water these plants during periods of prolonged hot and dry weather.
Light
Lighting needs vary depending on the type of native rose you’re growing, but most native roses tolerate full sun to part shade. Some species can handle full shade too. You’ll know your plants need more light if their flowers are scarce and their stems get leggy.
Humidity
High humidity can increase the risk of fungal issues in roses. Watering plants at the soil line and spacing them out properly is the best way to prevent these problems.
Temperature
Native roses are tolerant of hot and cold weather. Varieties that are native to your area shouldn’t need any winterization beyond mulch.
Fertilizer
Non-native roses can be hungry plants with high fertilizer needs. But native roses generally don’t need much fertilizer. Just apply a bit of compost around their roots once a year in spring or fall!
Toxicity
True roses are non-toxic to people, pets, and livestock.

Types

There are many native roses, and the best varieties for your garden are those native to your local growing region.

  • Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana): Pretty as a picture, Virginia roses grow between 4 and 6 feet high, and produce dainty pink flowers that linger from June to August. They’re also salt-tolerant and great for coastal gardens!
     
  • Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris): As the name suggests, swamp roses tolerate wetter soil than most and are ideal for pond margins and poorly draining gardens that experience occasional flooding. Hardy in zones 4 to 9, these plants max out at around 6-feet tall, and are at their best in full to part sun.
     
  • Pasture Rose (Rosa carolina): Another pink-flowered native rose, pasture roses are found in open areas throughout the Eastern United States and are particularly good for hedges and edible rosehips.
Pink pasture rose (Rosa carolina) flower growing in an open landscape
Pasture rose is a common native species found in open landscapes across the eastern United States. Credit: Elvin Lusha
  • Smooth Rose (Rosa blanda): Native to the Northeast, the smooth rose has relatively few thorns, which makes it easier to work with in the garden.
     
  • Wood’s wild rose (Rosa woodsia): One of the hardiest native roses you can find, Wood’s wild rose is native to the Rockies and Western United States and tolerates shade well.
     
  • Nootka Rose (Rosa nutkana): Pictured at the top of this page, Nootka rose’s fragrant summertime blooms are replaced by an abundance of rosehips in fall. Native to the Pacific West.
     
  • Climbing rose (Rosa setigera): A good choice for pergolas and fences, climbing rose stems stretch up to 10 feet long and provide autumn interest with their color-changing leaves.
Close-up of pink climbing prairie rose (Rosa setigera) flower with yellow stamens
Climbing prairie rose shows the open petals and prominent stamens common to native roses. Credit: Michael Benard

Harvesting

Rosehips are the part of native roses most commonly harvested, and they’re ready to pick in fall, once the hips have fully ripened and turned red or orange. Many gardeners wait until after the first light frost, which can soften the hips and improve their flavor.

Harvest rosehips selectively, leaving plenty behind to feed birds and other wildlife through winter. To use rosehips for food or tea, remove the seeds and irritating hairs before eating.

If you prefer, rosehips can also be left on the plant to add winter interest and provide a valuable cold-season food source for wildlife.

Red rosehips on swamp rose (Rosa palustris) in autumn
Rosehips are harvested in fall, once fully ripe, for jams, jellies, and tea. Credit: Wiert Nieuman

Try This With Your Harvest

Rosehip Jam

Take the hips you’ve gathered and turn them into a simple, old-fashioned rosehip jam packed with flavor. Here’s our recipe for Rose Hip Jam.
 

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Pests/Diseases

Native roses are hardier and more disease-resistant than non-native varieties, but they can still face a few potential problems.

  • Pests like aphids, thrips, and spider mites may feed on native roses – especially if the plants are stressed by heat and dry weather. Active infestations can be managed with organic soap sprays, but you can also repel pests naturally with companion planting.
     
  • Fungal problems like black spot and powdery mildew can also occur on native roses. These issues are more problematic when plants are watered from the top down or when they are grown too closely together. To avoid these issues, space roses far enough apart, water them at the soil line, destroy infected foliage in fall, and use natural fungicides if needed. 

Propagation

Native roses can be propagated from stem cuttings and seeds, but you’ll need to wait longer for plants started from seed to bloom.

From cuttings

Take 4- to 6-inch long tender stem cuttings from healthy native roses in spring or summer. Dip the cut stem ends in rooting hormone, remove the lower leaves from the cuttings, bury the cuttings 2/3 of the way up in pots filled with potting soil, water often, and transplant the cuttings into their permanent growing location once their roots are sturdy and you notice new growth emerging from the cutting’s top.

From seed (outdoor method)

Plant rose seeds ¼ inch deep in outdoor pots under cold frames in fall, keep the seeds lightly moist but not soggy, allow the seeds to cold-stratify in the pots over winter, and water them regularly as the weather warms in spring.

From seed (indoor method)

Alternatively, plant the seeds in trays or pots in spring, cover the pots with clear plastic, and place them in your fridge to cold-stratify for 10 to 12 weeks. Then move the pots to a warm, bright location, water often, and feed the seedlings with half-strength liquid kelp fertilizer when they start to grow. Rose seedlings can be transplanted outdoors when the risk of frost has passed, but seeds have a roughly 20% germination rate, so it’s wise to plant more seeds than you think you’ll need! 

Seasonal Care
Native roses bloom more bountifully if you apply an annual application of compost and mulch over their roots in spring or fall. If your plants are overgrown or need a little trim, save your pruning for late winter if you can.

During fall, rosehips can be gathered when they’re ripe and red for jams, jellies, tea-making, and more. You can also leave the hips in place to feed wildlife in winter. Many solitary bees use hollow rose stems for winter shelter, which you can encourage by cutting some of the rose stems back to 1 to 2-feet above the ground and leaving the hollow stems in place for nesting bees until the stems disintegrate into the soil.

Wit and Wisdom

Ornamental Gardening
About The Author
Lauren Landers

Lauren Landers

Master Gardener and Contributing Writer

Lauren is a gardener, writer, and public speaker with over a decade of experience helping others learn about gardening, homesteading, and sustainable living.She combines years of practical gardening a...
Read More from Lauren Landers

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