Smooth Rose
Rosa blanda
Last reviewed: September 2026
Smooth Rose is a deciduous shrub that blooms pink in June and July, growing best in full sun with medium moisture in prairies, meadows, and open woodland edges.
Smooth Rose (Rosa blanda) 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.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
24"–72" H × 24"–72" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul
Native to
CO, IA, IL, IN and 17 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Smooth rose is a low-maintenance native shrub that produces fragrant pink flowers in early summer followed by bright red rose hips in fall. This hardy plant spreads naturally by underground stems to form colonies, making it excellent for naturalizing areas and erosion control.
Growing Smooth Rose
Grow Smooth Rose in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 24 to 72 inches tall and spread 24 to 72 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Smooth Rose is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: moderate. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: mid zone, backyard only.
- Spreads by suckers and can look unruly
- Winter appearance is bare and informal
- May need pruning to control size and shape
Wildlife value
The flowers attract native bees and beetles during summer blooming period. Rose hips provide food for birds through fall and winter months.
Common questions
- When does Smooth Rose bloom?
- Smooth Rose typically flowers in June and July, producing clusters of pink blossoms on arching, mostly thornless stems.
- What pollinators visit Smooth Rose?
- Bees and beetles are the main visitors, drawn to the open pink flowers for pollen during the summer bloom period.
- How much sun and water does Smooth Rose need?
- This shrub does best in full sun to part sun with medium moisture, though it can tolerate drier soils once established.
- What growing conditions suit Smooth Rose?
- It grows well in open, sunny sites such as prairie edges, meadows, roadsides, and light woodland margins with well-drained soil.
- Is Smooth Rose deciduous or evergreen?
- Smooth Rose is deciduous, dropping its leaves in fall and leafing out again each spring.
- Is Smooth Rose toxic to dogs?
- Smooth Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Smooth Rose toxic to cats?
- Smooth Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- Is Smooth Rose HOA-friendly?
- Smooth Rose is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with moderate 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 Smooth Rose? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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