Cimbing Prairie Rose has fragrant clusters of deep pink flowers, two inches in diameter, blooming from early to midsummer. The dark green foliage turns attractive shades of deep red and purple in autumn …
Climbing Prairie Rose has fragrant clusters of deep pink flowers, two inches in diameter, blooming from early to midsummer. The dark green foliage turns attractive shades of deep red and purple in autumn. Actually a shrub with vine-like characteristics, this native rose can be either mounding and trailing up to 4' tall, or it can be trained to cover a wall or trellis, where it can climb up to 15 feet with support. While it is versatile and remarkably beautiful, this rose is large and fast growing. In a smaller garden the placement, design, and maintenance strategy will need some consideration.
An excellent substitute for the invasive Multiflora Rose, Rosa setigera prefers a site with good sunlight exposure (at least 6 hours a day). It does well in all types of soil, as long as there is sufficient sunlight. Partial shade is tolerated, but their will be relatively fewer blooms. This is a fast-growing shrub and "blooms on new wood:" the blooms occur on the fresh growth that is produced each spring. Renewal pruning can be done every three years.
Native roses are visited by an array of pollinating insects, as they have easy access to pollen from the large-petalled landing pads. Rosa setigera is a possible host plant for several different Sphinx moths, the Automeris Io and Cecropia moth.
Planting and Cultivation Notes
Rosa setigera is a "mostly" a dioecious species and produces male and female flowers on separate plants. However, it is known to produce some rosehips on a single plant. If abundant rosehips production is needed, we recommended at least 3 plants, installed in fairly close proximity. This will help ensure the presence of both sexes and good seed (rosehip) production. The sex of our plants is not determined prior to shipment.
Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species.
Plant Shipping Rates: for plant orders up to $50 the shipping amount is $9.95. For plant orders from $50.01 and over, the shipping rate is 20% of the total plant cost.
Fall plant-shipping begins on September 9, 2024. The last day to order your plants for fall shipment is September 29.
During checkout, you will be asked to choose a Shipping Week for your plant delivery, from the dates that are available. The week that you choose will be included in your order confirmation email. When your plants ship you will receive an email that includes your tracking information.
Our potted shrubs are between 1' and 2' high when shipped. The root is well developed and the plants have established branching. This shrub is in a one gallon (or #1) container, which is approximately 7" deep x 6.5" wide at the top.
Will I receive male or a female plants?
The dioecious shrubs that we offer are unsexed. The sex of the plants has not been determined at the time of shipment.
If I cut the blooms back after the petals have fallen, will it rebloom?
Native roses do not bloom all season long, as do some modern cultivars, and typically bloom in spring or early summer. Rosa setigera blooms in midsummer, a little later than most native roses. Deadheading (removal of old blooms) will not necessarily extend the bloom season, but instead it may reduce the production of rose hips.
Should this shrub be planted in spring or fall?
This shrub can be successfully planted in either spring or fall. See Tips for Planting in Fall for more informtation about planting perennials (including shrubs) in the fall. You may also be interested in How to Plant Shrubs, in our Resource & Guides pages.
Do you know if this rose attracts japanese beetles in Colorado?
Japanese beetles are said to favor roses. If you have japanese beetles in your area, they could be attracted to the roses.
"Larvae and eggs of Japanese beetle need at least 10 inches of soil moisture to thrive. Without supplemental irrigation, Colorado’s environment would not be conducive to Japanese beetle survival. However, irrigation does occur ... thereby making the pest a risk to certain areas of the state." -Colorado Dept of Agriculture
Perhaps the best way to deter japanese beetles is to eliminate or greatly reduce the lawn area :
"The Japanese beetle has a one-year life cycle but spends most of its life in the soil as a grub. Females lay eggs in the lawn and other grassy areas just under the soil surface in summer. They prefer to lay eggs in turf that is well-irrigated. Eggs soon hatch, and young larvae begin to feed on roots of nearby grass until cold weather forces them to move deeper into the soil for the winter. As the soil temperature warms in the spring, the grubs return to the surface to complete their life cycle." - Chicago botanic garden
Can this be planted in a large planter?
Most likely this climbing rose will outgrow the container. If you decide to try it, the pot would need to be at least 24"x24", along with a very sturdy trellis. Planting it in the ground is what we recommend.
Is this rose on the deers preferred menu?
It is not on the preferred menu, but Rosa setigera is occasionally browsed by deer.
I am in zone 4, will I be able to grow this as a hedge or will it die back in the winter?
Within its native range Rosa setigera does not die back in the winter. However, much of Zone 4 is North of this plants native range, and harsher winters in Zone 4 can cause die-back.
We are interested in just two Prairie climbing roses and we were wondering what will happen if we get two males or two females what are we missing? Thank you.
Some rosa setigera plants are male – they have flowers with stamens, and some Rosa setigera plants are female – they have flowers with pistils. If you purchase two rosa setigera plants it is possible to receive two male, or two female, plants. It is also possible to receive 1 male and 1 female plant. We don't pre-determine the sex of the plants. It does Not require both sexes to produce flowers – either male or female plants will flower profusely. However, the rosehips, which are the fruit/seed pods, will occur in greater abundance if both male and female plants are present. Rosa setigera is not strongly dioecious – any plant may have some of the opposite sex flowers on it – and so any plant is capable of setting some fruit, but it will be much less abundant.
I planted a Climbing Prairie Rose last fall and it didn't bloom this season (looks good though!) - which I expected. Can I also expect it to bloom next year, since it's had time to settle and establish?
Yes, you will see some blooms next summer, and the third year you'll see even more. Climbing Prairie Rose is a large plant and takes at least two full years to really get going.
What type of pruning do I need to do with this? I understand it blooms on new growth, so do I cut back every year?
It is not necessary to prune native wild roses, but if space is an issue they do respond well. With Climbing Prairie Rose it usually depends on where it is planted and how much space is available. In a limited space you might need to cutback every year, but if space is not an issue, it will put out new growth each year and bloom. Climbing Prairie Rose can be cutback anytime it gets too large or if blooms seem to be decreasing. Perform cutback betwen late fall to very early spring.. When the plant is dormant. Remove any damaged or very old canes at the base. Select about 5 or so young healthy canes too keep. The remaing good canes can be cut to a length of around 5 feet. Remove most all brancing from the canes. In spring, new canes will emerge and Each of the selected canes will then sprout new growth upon which the blooms will grow.
Will other native roses pollinate Rosa setigera to produce hips?
We don't have a definitive answer for cross pollination of other native roses with Rosa setigera. It seems possible, but might not be all that likely. Being dioecious, Rosa setigera has separate male and female plants. To start with, you would need to know that you have a female Rosa setigera. Only the female plant will produce quantities of rose hips. Also, your other Rosa species must bloom at the same time as your female R.setigera. All roses don't bloom at the same time. Rosa setiger blooms in midsummer, but many other native roses bloom in early summer.
Rosa setigera is mostly dioecious, but not entirely. It can produce some rosehips without its opposite partner plant, but not abundantly.
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