Climbing Prairie Rose
Rosa setigera
Last reviewed: October 2026
Rosa setigera is a climbing, thorny vine that blooms pink in June and July, thriving in full sun along woodland edges, fence lines and prairie borders.

Climbing Prairie Rose (Rosa setigera) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Climbing Prairie Rose as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
108"–168" H × 48"–96" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AL, AR, FL, GA and 24 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles, butterflies
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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This native climbing rose produces clusters of pink flowers in early summer, followed by red rose hips in fall. It can grow quite large and needs support structures like fences, trellises, or arbors to climb effectively.
Growing Climbing Prairie Rose
Grow Climbing Prairie Rose in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 108 to 168 inches tall and spread 48 to 96 inches wide. Expect high maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Climbing Prairie Rose is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: high. Tidiness: 2 out of 5.
Works well in: foundation, mid zone.
- Requires ongoing pruning to prevent overgrowth
- Needs sturdy support structure
- Can look unruly without regular maintenance
Wildlife value
The flowers attract bees and beetles during bloom season. Birds feed on the rose hips in fall and winter, and the thorny canes provide nesting sites for songbirds.
Common questions
- When does climbing rose bloom?
- Rosa setigera flowers in June and July, producing clusters of pink blossoms that fade to white as they age.
- What pollinators visit climbing rose?
- Bees and beetles are the primary visitors, drawn to the open, pollen-rich flowers typical of single-petaled roses.
- How much sun and water does Rosa setigera need?
- It grows best in full sun with medium moisture, though established plants handle drier soil once their roots are settled.
- How is climbing rose typically used in a garden?
- Its long, arching canes make it useful for training over fences, trellises or old stumps, and it can also be left to sprawl as a groundcover in open, sunny areas.
- Does climbing rose lose its leaves in winter?
- Yes, it is deciduous and drops its foliage after the growing season, leaving bare, thorny canes through winter.
- Is Climbing Prairie Rose toxic to dogs?
- Climbing Prairie Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Climbing Prairie Rose toxic to cats?
- Climbing Prairie Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Climbing Prairie Rose toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Climbing Prairie Rose as toxic to livestock.
- Is Climbing Prairie Rose HOA-friendly?
- Climbing Prairie Rose is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with high maintenance.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Climbing Prairie Rose? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
