The viability of fresh pollen from 6 Rosa species (Rosa spinosissima L., R. fedtschenkoana Regel, R. pendulina L., R. arkansana Porter, R. Carolina L., R. virginiana Miller), one botanical variety (R. spinosissima altaica Rehd.) and 3 cultivars (‘Betty Bland’, ‘George Will’, ‘Prairie Princess’) were evaluated. Correlation between pollen staining and germination was positive and significant, but absolute pollen viability was found to be a better indicator of viability than staining. Rosa spinosissima and R. fedtshenkoana were considered to be the best pollen parents from the genotypes sampled.