Rosa palustris
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Rosa lancifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- ROH-sah pah-LUSS-triss
- Description
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Swamp rose is a deciduous shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae). It grows upright with arching branches and typically matures to 3 to 6 feet tall and wide. It is native to eastern North America. The specific epithet is the Latin word meaning “swampy” or “marshy.”
It is best grown in full sun and in acidic, boggy soils that are high in organic matter. It tolerates partial shade but will flower best and be more disease resistant in full sun. Plants will not grow in standing water but will tolerate some seasonal flooding. Good air circulation is important to roses as it promotes vigorous and healthy growth and helps control foliar diseases. Prune as needed in late winter. Look here for a guide to pruning shrub roses.
Swamp rose slowly spreads by suckers providing excellent cover for wildlife year-round. Fragrant, single, pink roses bloom from late spring to early summer and attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Flowers are followed by pea-sized, red hips that are eaten by songbirds, quail, and wild turkeys. Leaves often turn attractive shades of red in fall.
Include swamp rose in native, butterfly, pollinator, and rain gardens.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Rosa
- Species:
- palustris
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern Canada to Eastern U.S.A
- Wildlife Value:
- It provides excellent cover year-round. Its hips are eaten by songbirds, quail and wild turkey.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- 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:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Pea-sized red hips (to 1/2" long) display from September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Fragrant, single pink roses (to 2" across) with contrasting yellow center stamens bloom from late spring to early summer (May through July).
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- curved prickles are clad with pinnately compound medium to dark green leaves. Each leaf typically has 7 (sometimes 5 but rarely 9) broad-elliptic, finely-toothed, dark green leaflets (to 2 1/2" long) which are pointed at both ends. Leaves turn often attractive shades of red in fall
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Insect Pests
