Swamp Rose

Rosa palustris

Plant Details

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 4a-9b Find Your Zone

Plant Type: Modern Shrub Rose

Height at Maturity: 4-6′

Width at Maturity: 4-6′
Spacing: 4′ apart for hedges; 10’+ apart for space between

Growth Habit / Form: Upright, Arching, Rounded Mound

Growth Rate: Moderate to Fast

Flower Color: Pink with Yellow stamens, Red hips in fall

Flower Size: 2-2.5″

Flowering Period: Mid Spring through Early Summer

Flower Type: Single

Fragrant Flowers: No

Foliage Color: Green

Fragrant Foliage: No

Berries: Yes, red hips in fall

Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade; 5 hours of direct sunlight per day suggested

Water Needs: Average to High

Soil Type: Clay (Amend heavy clay for porosity), Loam, Sand, Silt

Soil Drainage: Moist But Well Drained to Boggy; not standing water

Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.0

Maintenance / Care: Low

Attracts: Butterflies, Beneficial Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds, Quail, Wild Turkey, Visual Attention

Resistances: Cold Temperatures (-30F), Disease, Heat, Humidity, Boggy Soil

Description

A rose that will grow in boggy soil? Yes, the Swamp Rose, Rosa palustris, is an easy-to-grow North American native that prefers life on the moist and sunny side. It prefers a boggy soil, but not standing water, however will tolerate periodic flooding. This makes it a good choice for those areas in the landscape where the soil just doesn’t want to dry out. It is a slowly spreading upright growing shrub with arching branches that might reach 4 to 6 feet tall and equally as wide. In our Georgia Zone 8a gardens, from May to July the Swamp Rose shows off abundant, very cute, fragrant single roses with pink petals surrounding a prominent patch of bright yellow stamens. The flowers are followed by showy red hips (berries) that persist through fall. Excellent for wildlife, the flowers attract many species of butterflies and other beneficial pollinators and the red hips are enjoyed by songbirds, quail, wild turkeys and small mammals. The green leaves are similar to those of other roses however turn attractive shades of red with the arrival of cooler temperatures in fall.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 4 to 6 feet tall and equally wide, the Swamp Rose is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings or as a colorful hedge in landscape and flowering shrub borders and home foundation plantings where the soil tends to stay moist to even wet, but not constantly standing in water. A fine addition to bog gardens, rain gardens, wetland gardens, native plant gardens, fragrance gardes, rose gardens, cottage gardens and pink theme color gardens.

Growing Preferences

The Swamp Rose is easy to grow in most any moist but well drained to wet soil of average or high fertility and full sun to part shade. As with all other roses, to avoid powdery mildew on the leaves, morning sun is a must to dry dew from the leaves. Afternoon filtered sun is fine. We suggest 6 hours of direct sun light for best flowering. Maintenance is minimal. Swamp Rose do not require pruning, however, they do benefit from it. To keep your rose full and bushy from year to year the branches can be cut back to about 15-18 inches above the ground in late winter or early spring. After this hard pruning, your rose will quickly flush out and start blooming with the arrival of warmer spring temperatures. Deadheading spent flowers through the season is not necessary however will encourage new buds and flowers.

Helpful Articles

Click on the link below to find helpful advice for how to plant and care for Knock Out Roses.

How To Plant, Prune, Fertilize & Water Knock Out Rose Bushes

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