Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina) offers a charming display of fragrant, pink, single-petaled blooms that appear in late spring or early summer. Reaching 2 to 5 feet in height and width, this native, deciduous shrub features distinctive, needle-like thorns on its stems, along with serrated, dark green leaves that emphasize its delicate rose blossoms. Post-bloom, bright red hips form, which stand out against the foliage and feed birds into late autumn and winter. This rugged rose’s tolerance of heat, occasional dryness, and varied soil conditions makes it a versatile choice for wildlife gardens, naturalized borders, and informal hedges. Its light fragrance, hardy nature, and wildlife benefits set it apart from more demanding hybrid roses.
Beyond its delightful flowers and bright hips, Carolina Rose is surprisingly low-maintenance. It is disease-resistant by rose standards and will adapt well to sunny or partially shaded sites. Native to eastern and central North America, it grows in a variety of habitats, including prairies, wood edges, and meadows. It attracts pollinating bees and butterflies, and its rose hips feed numerous bird species. Use it to form a drought-tolerant thicket, line a fence row with a natural hedge, or add it to sunny borders for year-round interest.
Carolina Rose Care
Plant Carolina Rose in full sun for best flowering, though it tolerates partial shade. Supply well-drained soil of moderate fertility; overly rich soils may encourage vigorous but weak growth. Once established, it can handle moderate drought and infrequent watering, but will produce more flowers with consistent moisture. Spread mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool, especially in hot climates. For optimum health, fertilize lightly in early spring with a balanced formula made for roses, and consider adding organic matter or compost if the soil is poor.
Give this shrub an annual pruning in late winter or early spring to remove dead or crossing branches and maintain a pleasing form. Trim any suckers if you wish to control its spread, as it can form a loose thicket over time. Container-grown specimens require more frequent watering and occasional repotting to accommodate new root growth. Light thinning after blooming can encourage airflow, helping prevent common rose ailments.
Carolina Rose Spacing
When creating a hedge or row, plant shrubs 3 to 5 feet apart, leaving room for the arching canes and future root suckers to fill in. This spacing ensures proper airflow and accommodates the rose’s natural spreading habit. For container growth, choose a pot at least 14 to 16 inches wide and deep, giving the root system ample room to expand and stabilizing the shrub’s crown for healthy growth.
- SKU:
- 1231021045-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations