If Valentine’s Day brings your thoughts to roses, you’re in good company. Gorgeous colors and sweet fragrances have made roses a landscape favorite. Florida’s climate, soil, and garden pests do present challenges to growing roses in our state. Luckily, our two native species and a few non-native, Florida-friendly varieties are low-maintenance, sustainable, and perform well here.
Swamp Rose
Swamp rose (Rosa palustris) is a tall, deciduous shrub with small pink or white flowers. This native grows in North and Central Florida, is important for native bees, and provides fruit for birds and small mammals.

Swamp Rose by Dr. William J. Weber
Carolina Rose
Carolina rose (Rosa carolina) is a smaller, deciduous with pink flowers. Growing in North Florida, it makes a good hedge or backdrop in a wildflower garden. This rose also attracts a variety of insects, especially native bees, and birds and small mammals eat the fruit.

Carolina Rose by D. Gordon E. Robertson
Once established, both species are hardy in their native regions and aren’t susceptible to most diseases and pests.
Native plants provide the best habitat for our native wildlife–after all, they’ve grown up together over centuries! Some animals feed only on native plants or use these plants as hosts for their young. Supporting biodiversity in our gardens is essential, and aiming for 70-80% native plant species helps achieve this goal.
What is a Florida-Friendly plant?
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ is a research-based program of the University of Florida/IFAS Extension that promotes sustainable alternatives to “conventional” landscaping for both home gardeners and landscaping professionals. The program focuses on creating attractive gardens that are low-impact and environmentally friendly. They use less water, reduce pollutants in Florida’s waters, support wildlife, and are non-invasive.
Florida-friendly, non-native plants can be mixed with Florida natives in the garden and can provide conservation benefits. Some have long bloom times that provide pollen throughout the growing season, and many offer shelter and places to build nests. Others, like certain garden herbs, are host plants for native caterpillars.
For rose-loving gardeners there are non-native roses that fit the Florida-friendly criteria. Grown in the right location, they require little maintenance and are disease and pest-resistant. Here are a few to consider.

Mrs. B.R. Cant by Marilyn Wellan
Mrs. B.R. Cant is an old garden rose that does well in heat and humidity with pink, cabbage-like flowers growing on stems that can reach 8–10 feet. Once established, this tough landscape rose doesn’t need pampering.
Louis Philippe, or Florida Cracker rose, has crimson-colored double blooms with a sweet fragrance. It can be pruned to a smaller shrub or climb a trellis to 7–8 feet tall. The “Cracker” rose was widely planted in 19th century and still can be found on old homesites and in cemeteries.

Louis Philippe by Aaron Fink

Miss Atwood by Mary Ann Pigora
Miss Atwood belongs to a group called Bermuda mystery roses. These varieties have survived the heat and humidity of Bermuda for over one hundred years. With lovely peach–colored petals, this rose forms 4×6 feet bushes.
Planting the right variety in the right location gives the best results. Be sure to add companion plants that will bring beneficial insects to help take care of pests that can munch on your roses. A generous supply of companions like Thai peppers, zinnias, sunflowers, Thai basil, and other herbs will provide plenty for both the beneficial insects and you.
When shopping for roses avoid multiflora rose (Rosa mulitiflora). It is listed as invasive in all regions of the state and has moved into natural areas, harming those ecosystems. Always buying native and Florida-friendly plants and asking retailers not to sell invasive species helps maintain and increase local biodiversity and protect natural areas.
For more information about gardening in Florida or to register your yard as a Certified Wildife Habitat, CLICK HERE.