# Carolina rose (*Rosa carolina*) The Carolina rose is a beautiful flower that blooms in pink and white colors. It grows in gardens and wild areas, attracting butterflies and bees with its sweet scent. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Carolina rose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pasture_Rose%252C_flowers_and_leaves.jpg&width=800) Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pasture_Rose%252C_flowers_and_leaves.jpg) ## Appearance The Carolina rose has delicate, fragrant pink petals with bright yellow centers, typically appearing singly or in small clusters. Its slender stems are armed with sharp, needle-like prickles, distinguishing it from many cultivated roses. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Rosa ## Interesting facts - Even after frost, its red rose hips add bright color to winter. - Its vitamin-rich rose hips are a super snack for animals! - This tough rose is a distant wild relative of many garden beauties! - Tiny galls, often called 'rose apples,' can grow on its stems! ## Special abilities - **Thorny Defender:** Carolina rose has sharp prickles that help it defend its tender stems and leaves from hungry animals. - **Vitamin Powerhouse:** Carolina rose grows bright red hips packed with vitamins that attract birds and animals to spread its seeds. - **Tough Root System:** Carolina rose can grow deep roots that help it find water and survive in dry or disturbed soil conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-200 cm - **Spread:** 60-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 3-7 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats nutritious rose hips in winter - **Eats:** [Japanese Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/japanese-beetle) (*Popillia japonica*) — browses on its leaves and flowers ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to touch the thorns on the stems! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Carolina rose? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Carolina rose? 60-200 cm ### How wide does Carolina rose spread? 60-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on Carolina rose? 3-7 cm ### When does Carolina rose bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Carolina rose edible? Yes ### Is Carolina rose toxic? None ### What is Carolina rose's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Peebles Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peebles-island-state-park) — New York, US · State Park - [Illinois Caverns State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-caverns-state-natural-area) — Illinois, US · State Park - [Kitchell Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kitchell-park) — Illinois, US · Park - [Hyner View State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hyner-view-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park [View all places to see Carolina rose](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/carolina-rose) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Carolina rose: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-rose)