Flower profile

Three-leaved rose

Rosa laevigata

Three-leaved rose (Rosa laevigata) is a low shrub in the Rosaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

★ Official state floral emblem of Georgia (1916)Not native to Georgia

Three-leaved rose is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. In Georgia it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

10states where USDA records it

170GA sightings*

1,083U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Georgia

🏅

Georgia's official state floral emblem since 1916. Visit the Georgia page → ^{O.C.G.A. § 50-3-53} Despite its name, the Cherokee rose is native to China; it was naturalized in the Southeast long ago.

Quick look

Rosa laevigata, or the Cherokee rose, is a white, fragrant rose native to southern China, Taiwan and Vietnam. It is an invasive species in countries including Australia, Japan and the United States.
From Wikipedia's article Rosa laevigata, 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 introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 10 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Georgia. ^NatureServe
In Georgia, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 170 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #112 among the 183 flowers on our Georgia list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Georgia, most flowering sightings come in March–April.

Flowering records by month in Georgia (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (100 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: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Georgia: Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Georgia. ^{Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Rose hips are edible” ^{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 three-leaved rose in 10 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.

Georgia counties with USDA records: Charlton, Chatham, Glynn, Grady, Lowndes, McIntosh, Richmond.

Names, range and relatives

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

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 74 counties across 8 states; the most are in Louisiana (23), Florida (18), South Carolina (10).

Other Rosa on Bloomipedia (10): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Rugosa rose, California wild rose, Baldhip rose, Woods' rose, Climbing prairie rose, Nootka rose, Prickly wild rose, Prairie 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 Georgia flowers

Mock strawberry

Potentilla indica

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in GA: March–April

Black cherry

Prunus serotina

Native

🌼 Blooms in GA: March–April

Southern dewberry

Rubus trivialis

Native

🌼 Blooms in GA: February–April

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile ROLA.
iNaturalist, Rosa laevigata: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Rosa laevigata (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
O.C.G.A. § 50-3-53: Georgia state floral emblem.
Georgia: Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Rosa laevigata (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
Photo: Nonbinary-Naturalist via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.