Plant Details

Rosa carolina

Pasture Rose, Carolina rose

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Rosa carolina.

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Common names

19 names · 14 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Carolina rose[1]
  • Pasture Rose
Other languages (13)
Dutch
  • Carolina-roos
  • lage roos
  • weideroos
French
  • Rosier de Caroline[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 草原蔷薇[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 草原薔薇[1]
Czech
  • růže karolínská[1]
Estonian
  • karoliina kibuvits[1]
  • karoliina roos[1]
Finnish
  • carolinanruusu[1]
Polish
  • Róża karolińska[1]
Russian
  • Шиповник каролинский[1]
Slovak
  • ruža karolínska[1]
Spanish
  • rosa de monte[1]
  • rosa silvestre[1]
Swedish
  • carolinaros[1]
Turkish
  • Karolina Gülü[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Rosa carolina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • rosa silvestre — results[1].names[1]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • Carolina rose — results[1].names[2]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • rosa de monte — results[1].names[4]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • carolinanruusu — results[1].names[5]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • Шиповник каролинский — results[1].names[6]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • růže karolínská — results[1].names[7]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • karoliina kibuvits — results[1].names[8]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • karoliina roos — results[1].names[9]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • 草原薔薇 — results[1].names[10]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • 草原蔷薇 — results[1].names[11]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • carolinaros — results[1].names[12]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • Karolina Gülü — results[1].names[13]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • Rosier de Caroline — results[1].names[14]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • Róża karolińska — results[1].names[15]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.
  • ruža karolínska — results[1].names[16]; taxon id 129196; Rosa carolina.

General information

Scientific name: Rosa carolina
Accepted name (Kew): Rosa carolina L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Rosaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Rosa (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Pasture Rose, Carolina rose
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.15–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–1.52 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [3]
Growth habit: Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Very Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow Rocky
Sources [3]
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Fruit, Flowers, Seed
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(1)
Functions:
None

Description

Fruits - These fruits can be eaten both raw and cooked, but they have a sour taste. They can be processed into syrup and jam. The fruit has a diameter of about 8 mm, but contains many seeds with only a thin layer of pulp around them. Caution is advised when eating this fruit due to known hazards. Flowers - Flowers can be eaten both raw and cooked and are a tasty addition to salads. Usually, only the petals are eaten by removing the white base of the petal to avoid a bitter taste. The seeds are a good source of vitamin E and can be ground and added to flour or other foods as a supplement. Don’t forget to remove the seed fluff.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 846416; name ID 2964569; Rosa L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1441706; name ID 2967046; Rosa carolina L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Rosa carolina

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1155328, ID 4TCZZ: Rosa carolina L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Rosa carolina — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .