Cherokee Rose is native to China, this rose has naturalized across much of the southeastern United States. It is also called Rosalaevigata.

 

The rose is excessively thorny and generously supplied with leaves of a vivid green. In color, it is waxy white with a large golden center.

 

It is an evergreen climbing rose and produces long, thorny, vine like canes that will form a mound 10-12 ft (3-3.7 m) in height and about 15 ft (4.6 m) wide. This rose is often seen sprawling across adjacent shrubs and other supports that it employs to climb to even greater heights. The stems often take root if left on the ground. The evergreen leaves are made up of 3 (rarely 5) finely toothed leaflets, which help distinguish it from the Chickasaw Rose (Rosa bracteata). The leaves are 3-10 cm long and are bright glossy green and glabrous. Each flower of Cherokee Rose is about 3 inches in diameter. It is nearly flat and consists of 5 white petals (sometimes slightly pink), with a cluster of yellow stamens in the center. The fruit is pear-shaped and bristly. It is called a hip and is large compared to other members of the rose family being 1.5-2 in (4-5 cm) long by 0.5-1 in (1-2.5 cm) wide.

 

Cherokee rose demands little maintenance other than periodic pruning to keep it in bounds. It prefers well drained, fertile soils but is very adaptable. It will succeed in both wet and very dry sandy soils. Likes full sun, but will tolerate some shade. Provide regular watering for best look and fast growth. Cherokee rose also grows well on lake and stream banks and can survive occasional flooding. This adaptable rose has also proven to be drought tolerant. Cherokee rose is very easy to propagate from cuttings. Bare root plants transplant easily.

 

It is an effective screening and barrier plant. It's a useful addition to natural areas where it will shoot long arching stems that will string themselves through tree branches and shrubs.

 

Did you know?

·         The Cherokee Rose is the State Flower of Georgia.

·        The name "Cherokee Rose" is a local designation derived from the Cherokee Indians who widely distributed the plant.

·        When the Trail of Tears started in 1838, the mothers of the Cherokee were grieving and crying so much, they were unable to help their children survive the journey. The elders prayed for a sign that would lift the mother’s spirits to give them strength. The next day a beautiful rose began to grow where each of the mother’s tears fell. The rose is white for their tears; a gold center represents the gold taken from Cherokee lands, and seven leaves on each stem for the seven Cherokee clans.