Flower profile

Climbing prairie rose

Rosa setigera

Climbing prairie rose (Rosa setigera) is a low shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Ohio

Climbing prairie rose is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Ohio it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

31states where USDA records it

1,814OH sightings*

6,618U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Ohio

Quick look

Rosa setigera, commonly known as the climbing rose, prairie rose, and climbing wild rose, is a species of shrub or vine in the Rosaceae (rose) family native to central and eastern North America.
From Wikipedia's article Rosa setigera, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Rosaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as a subshrub / a vine with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 31 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Ohio. ^NatureServe
In Ohio, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 16 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 1,814 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #98 among the 186 flowers on our Ohio list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Ohio, most flowering sightings come in June–July.

Flowering records by month in Ohio (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (878 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Ohio: Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. ^{OAC 1501:18-1-03}
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DC (SX), LA (S2), MI (S2), PA (S1), VA (S1), WV (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNon-toxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Rose” (Rosa Species), which covers the whole genus, lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Eating lots of any plant can still upset a pet's stomach. ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records climbing prairie rose in 31 states plus Washington, D.C.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, Wyandot.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Climbing prairie rose a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -13 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 5.0 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -13 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 140
Annual precipitation range: 20 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring
Fruit or seed: Red · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ROSE2. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 658 counties across 27 states; the most are in Missouri (109), Ohio (88), Kentucky (78).

Other Rosa on Bloomipedia (10): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Rugosa rose, California wild rose, Baldhip rose, Woods' rose, Nootka rose, Prickly wild rose, Prairie rose, Three-leaved rose.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry, Salmonberry.

More Ohio flowers

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in OH: May–July

Multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OH: May–June

Mock strawberry

Potentilla indica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in OH: April–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ROSE2.
iNaturalist, Rosa setigera: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Rosa setigera (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ohio: Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024).
Ohio: Ohio invasive plant species (Ohio Adm. Code 901:5-30-01).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Rosa setigera (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Christopher Zacharias via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.