Rosa palustris
Swamp Rose
General
This is a beautiful wetland shrub with showy, fragrant flowers. It can grow in a variety of wetland environments, including marshes, swamps, streambanks, and ditches. A valuable species to bees.
Plant Description
Shrub with pairs of thorns at nodes that have a slight downward curve. Leaves alternately pinnate, usually with 7 finely-toothed leaflets. Stipules narrow. Flowers are light to dark pink, with 5 petals. Round fruits are orange to red and have distinctive gland-tipped hairs.
Height (ft)
3-6
Spread (ft)
3-6
Soil moisture
Moist to Wet
Soil types
Medium and fine textured rich mineral soils
Wetland indicator
OBL
Shade tolerance
Tolerant, Full Sun to Full Shade
Bloom color
Pink
Bloom period
Summer
Fall conspicuous
No
Anaerobic tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Salinity tolerance
None
Self-Pollinating?
Yes
Range
Eastern half of the United States.
Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]
Additional Information
According to BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database, the Cherokee used an infusion of the bark and roots to treat parasitic infections and a decoction of the roots for dysentery.