Virginia rose
Rosa virginiana
Last reviewed: September 2026
Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
medium
Size
36"–72" H × 36"–72" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul
Native to
CT, DC, DE, KY and 13 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
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A thicket-forming shrub with single five-petaled pink flowers in early summer, followed by glossy red hips that persist into winter. Glossy foliage turns orange-red in fall, and the plant spreads by suckers to form dense colonies.
Wildlife value
Flowers provide pollen for bees, and the persistent winter hips are eaten by birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- How much sun does Virginia rose need?
- Virginia rose grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Virginia rose bloom?
- Virginia rose blooms in June and July.
- Where is Virginia rose native?
- Virginia rose (Rosa virginiana) is native to CT, DC, DE, KY and 13 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- Is Virginia rose toxic to dogs?
- Virginia rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
- Is Virginia rose toxic to cats?
- Virginia rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
- What pollinators does Virginia rose attract?
- Virginia rose draws bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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 Virginia rose? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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