Climbing prairie rose, Rosa setigera, is another native rose I planted in my garden two years ago. I planted it along our fence line to hide the chain link and to offer privacy. It receives a fair amount of sun and has grown amazingly fast. Other than to train it slightly to grow along the fence and handmade trellis, I have done nothing to maintain this rose. This is the first season it bloomed. I expected a few blooms, but not this:
It smells like a rose. It also offers pollen and hips. I look forward to seeing the bright red hips this winter. Pollinators attracted to this rose include Syrphid flies and various bees: honeybees, bumblebees, Anthophorine bees, Miner bees, large Leaf-Cutting bees, and Halictine bees. Birds are attracted to the hips. (I hope to witness this firsthand.)
This rose is classified as a shrub 6-8′ H, but is easily trained to climb. Some of my branches are quite long and I simply direct them to grow along the fence.
The leaves turn a nice red color in fall. For someone who knows nothing about roses, I am really thrilled to have two native roses now growing (organically) and blooming in my garden. (To learn more about swamp rose, Rosa pulustris, click here.) If you, too, have a fear of growing roses thinking they are fussy and need gallons of chemical sprays, give the native prairie rose a try!
07/28/2011 at 3:46 pm
This is a really nice looking native rose, and I agree the bright red hips seen in the winter is a nice added bonus.I may try a native rose along the fence next year.Heather
07/28/2011 at 4:47 pm
Fabulous! I never thought about training one as a climbing rose, but yours is really gorgeous.
07/28/2011 at 7:21 pm
that is a superb plant, the flowers are lovely and the overall shape it grows is lovely and obviously so well suited to its position. I am currently having difficulty covering a fence, I think because it doesn't get much sun. But I only want non fussy things in my garden, just like these roses. Inspiring post, thank you, tvf. cheers, cm
07/29/2011 at 5:42 am
Lovelt Rose. It looks very much like the Rose that grows wild in Ireland, Rosa Canina.