North America Non-native Plant

Rosa Maracandica

Botanical name: Rosa maracandica

USDA symbol: ROMA2

Native status: Not native but doesn't reproduce and persist in the wild

Rosa maracandica: The Mysterious Rose That’s Hard to Pin Down If you’ve stumbled across the name Rosa maracandica in your plant research, you’re not alone in wondering what exactly this rose is all about. This particular species name presents quite the puzzle for gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike, as it’s ...

Rosa maracandica: The Mysterious Rose That’s Hard to Pin Down

If you’ve stumbled across the name Rosa maracandica in your plant research, you’re not alone in wondering what exactly this rose is all about. This particular species name presents quite the puzzle for gardeners and plant enthusiasts alike, as it’s one of those botanical mysteries that doesn’t appear in most standard plant databases or horticultural references.

What We Know (And Don’t Know)

Here’s where things get interesting – and a bit frustrating if you’re trying to plan your garden. Rosa maracandica is listed in some botanical records, but detailed information about this specific rose is surprisingly scarce. We know it belongs to the beloved Rosa genus, which gives us some clues about its general characteristics, but the specifics remain elusive.

The lack of widely available information could mean several things: it might be an extremely rare species, a regional name that’s not widely recognized, or possibly a taxonomic name that’s fallen out of current use in favor of a more accepted classification.

The Challenge for Gardeners

Without clear information about Rosa maracandica’s native range, growing requirements, or garden performance, it’s nearly impossible to provide specific cultivation advice. This puts gardeners in a tricky spot – how do you successfully grow something when you can’t find reliable information about it?

A Practical Approach

If you’re interested in Rosa maracandica, here are some sensible steps to take:

  • Contact local botanical gardens or university extension offices – they might have regional knowledge about this species
  • Verify the plant name with multiple sources before purchasing
  • Consider whether you might be looking for a similar, better-documented rose species
  • If you do locate this plant, document your growing experience to help future gardeners

Native Rose Alternatives

While we sort out the Rosa maracandica mystery, consider exploring well-documented native roses in your area. Native roses typically offer excellent wildlife benefits, support local pollinators, and are adapted to regional growing conditions. Popular native roses in North America include species like Rosa carolina, Rosa virginiana, and Rosa woodsii, depending on your location.

The Bottom Line

Rosa maracandica remains one of those botanical enigmas that reminds us how much we still don’t know about the plant world. Until more information becomes available, it’s wise to focus on roses with well-established growing requirements and proven garden performance. Sometimes the most mysterious plants make the best conversation starters, even if they don’t make the best garden additions!

If you have experience with Rosa maracandica or know more about this elusive species, we’d love to hear from you. Plant knowledge grows best when gardeners share their experiences with one another.

Rosa Maracandica

Classification

Group

Dicot

Kingdom

Plantae - Plants

Subkingdom

Tracheobionta - Vascular plants

Superdivision

Spermatophyta - Seed plants

Division

Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants

Subdivision
Class

Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons

Subclass

Rosidae

Order

Rosales

Family

Rosaceae Juss. - Rose family

Genus

Rosa L. - rose

Species

Rosa maracandica Bunge

Plant data source: USDA, NRCS 2025. The PLANTS Database. https://plants.usda.gov,. 2/25/2025. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA