GARDENING
Do Native Roses Exist?!
YES! And They Are Great in Gardens
In the Northeast June is the month for roses — first the shrub roses bloom then finally the hybrid teas. But in a pollinator garden we steer clear of hybrids and look to native roses! There are about 20 roses native to North America, although they are not often used in gardens. When most people think of roses, they picture a formal garden of Italian or French style — think symmetry with a lot of space between the roses and lots of pavers. In a pollinator garden, where the needs of insects take precedence over Renaissance geometry, the shrub-like growth of native roses fits perfectly.
Native roses can be planted together to form a dense hedge or planted singly within a larger bed — think Beatrix Potter cottage garden. In the Northeast, Rosa virginiana and Rosa carolina are two of the most common native roses. They are very similar and difficult to tell apart, except for the difference in stipules. There’s a great photo detailing the difference in Connecticut Gardener.
Meet the Native Roses
Common names only get us into trouble when talking about native roses. Virginia and Carolina roses are both often referred to as ‘pasture’ roses. Other generic names used to label different rose species include ‘field,’ ‘meadow,’ ‘prairie,’ and ‘wild.’ Every native rose could conceivably be called a ‘wild’ rose! Perhaps we use non-specific descriptors like ‘wild’ because the individual species are so difficult to tell apart. When it comes to finding a native rose best fit for your garden, though, Latin names are key. You want to make sure you’re purchasing a plant matched to thrive in your garden’s conditions.
Native roses most often found in the ‘wild’ across North America include
- Carolina Rose (Rosa Carolina)
- Virginia Rose (Rosa virginiana)
- Wood’s Rose (Rosa woodsii)
- Prairie Rose (Rosa blanda)
- Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)
- Climbing Rose (Rosa setigera)
Using Native Roses in Your Garden
The native roses I’ve planted have bloomed more profusely when placed in established garden beds. As I’ve mentioned before, my area has a lot of red shale, which makes life a bit difficult for both gardener and plant. In the more established beds where the soil is rich from years and years of plantings, the roses have bloomed beautifully. When I planted a few bushes in a new garden bed without any soil additions, their blooms were sparse.
Thus far, my native roses have not succumbed to any of the molds or blights associated with hybrids. I have happily observed nibble marks on the Rosa virginiana leaves and hope they were made by the Apple Sphinx Moth caterpillar. I would love to see some of those pollinators in my backyard in the evenings.
