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.