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Rosa palustris

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Rosa lancifolia
Phonetic Spelling
ROH-sah pah-LUSS-triss
Description

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.

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Tags:
#fragrant#thorns#deciduous#rain garden#native shrub#cover plant#showy fruits#disease resistant#NC native#naturalizes#pollinator plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#cover plant winter#bee friendly#Audubon#insect resistant#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#fragrant#thorns#deciduous#rain garden#native shrub#cover plant#showy fruits#disease resistant#NC native#naturalizes#pollinator plant#food source fall#Coastal OBL#food source nectar#food source pollen#Piedmont Mountains OBL#bird friendly#mammals#food source soft mast fruit#butterfly friendly#cover plant winter#bee friendly#Audubon#insect resistant#wildlife friendly
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Native Plant
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Erect
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Reddish stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rain Garden
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Small Mammals
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Diseases
    Insect Pests