Students for Stewardship The Cork Board
← Back to the library

Butterfly Rose

Rosa chinensis (RO-zuh chi-NEN-sis)

Family: Rosaceae Non-native Shrub (3-15 ft)

China rose is one of the oldest cultivated roses, having been brought from China before 1894. It is a rounded, woody, deciduous shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae) and native to south and central China. The genus name Rosa is Latin for rose; the specific epithet indicates its origin. China rose enjoys full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained loam with a neutral pH; moderate watering; and good air circulation. A full-grown China rose can reach 6 to 8 feet in height and spread. When planting allow for one foot of space all around the mature plant to promote good air circulation and reduce the chances of foliar diseases. Do not irrigate from above, as this too can lead to foliar disease. Water at the base, and apply mulch generously to conserve moisture. Deadheading will promote further flushes of bloom. Prune China rose in the early spring. Look here for a guide to pruning shrub roses. Propagate China rose by grafting or stem cutting. Because of its mature size, China rose makes a good accent plant or can be used to provide height in a garden bed. Mass planted, it makes a good hedge, or it can cover slopes. The flowers attract honey bees and butterflies, and the hips are a food source for birds. Place it beside a patio or include it in a butterfly, cottage, cutting, English, or pollinator garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: China rose is susceptible to black spot, powdery mildew, rust, and rose rosette. It may be attacked by aphids, Japanese beetles, borers, scale insects, thrips, rose midges, leafhoppers, and spider mites. This plant is frequently damaged by deer. For full information on common pests and diseases, please see the Rosa page. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Rosa .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 66 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub (3-15 ft) Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Aruncus dioicus Berlandiera lyrata Rosa carolina

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Shrub
USDA zones
6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The compound leaves of China Rose are two to four and a half inches long and carried alternately. There are three to five one inch to two and a quarter inch by on half to one inch leaflets though sometimes seven leaflets are present. Young leaves are reddish purple changing to dark green on top and lighter green beneath. Both sides can be slightly hairy. They have slightly rounded bases with a pointy tip. The margins are serrated.
Fall color
Insignificant
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut
Flower form
Cyme
Flower shape
Wheel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers of China rose are under two inches in diameter but they are carried in groups of four or five so do have an impact. They are slightly fragrant. The single bloom has five petals. Sometimes the petals are semi-double or double. The colors range from white through pink to red or purple.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Pome
Fruit value
Long-lasting
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits of all roses are called hips and are considered a good source of vitamin C. The hips appear any time from June through November and, if the birds will let them, can survive the winter. The ovoid hips of China Rose are under one inch in diameter and red in color.
Bark color
Light Brown
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The early growth of China Rose stems is a very attractive reddish purple. As the stem ages it turns from purple to green then brown. The stems are covered in prickles.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South-Central China
Distribution
World wide in Temperate Zones
Wildlife value
China rose flowers are visited by honey bees. Birds eat the hips. These plants are frequently damaged by deer.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall; Summer; Winter
Fruit type
Pome
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Patio; Slope/Bank
Landscape theme
Asian Garden; Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; English Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Hedge; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#deciduous #drought tolerant #fruits late summer #fruits fall #fruits early summer #fruits mid-summer #honey bees #frequent insect problems #cutting garden #frequent disease problems #purple stems #deer browsing plant #slopes #mass planting #fragrant flowers #high maintenance #hedge #patio #butterfly friendly #bee friendly #prickles #accent
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Rose Pest Management Calendar; Pests of Rose; Rose Pest Management Calendar; Japanese Beetles on Ornamental Landscape Plants; Roses for North Carolina
Problems
Frequent Disease Problems; Frequent Insect Problems; Spines/Thorns
Propagation
Grafting; Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.

📍 Add a planting 📝 Add to wish list