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Swamp Rose

Rosa palustris

Last reviewed: October 2026

Rosa palustris, or swamp rose, is a deciduous shrub that grows in swamps, marshes, and wet meadows across the eastern and midwestern United States, flowering pink blooms in June and July.

Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris)
Photo: (c) Jenn (McPhee) Dyson, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs or cats (aspca.org (opens in new tab), last reviewed 2026-05-21). If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Swamp Rose as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

36"–96" H × 36"–72" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 25 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Ozark HighlandsPiedmontNorthern Lakes and ForestsNorth Central Hardwood ForestsSoutheastern Wisconsin Till PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsNortheastern HighlandsNortheastern Coastal ZoneNorthern Allegheny PlateauErie Drift PlainNorthern ForestsMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNorthern PiedmontSoutheastern PlainsBlue RidgeRidge and ValleyCentral AppalachiansWestern Allegheny PlateauInterior PlateauInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess PlainsSouthern Coastal PlainAcadian Plains and HillsEastern Great Lakes LowlandsAtlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Swamp rose is a native shrub that produces fragrant pink flowers in summer followed by bright red hips in fall. This moisture-loving plant forms dense thickets over time and provides excellent wildlife habitat. It thrives in wet soils where other roses struggle.

Growing Swamp Rose

Grow Swamp Rose in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 36 to 96 inches tall and spread 36 to 72 inches wide. Expect moderate maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Swamp Rose takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: moderate. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Forms spreading thickets that look wild
  • Can appear messy with thorny canes
  • Requires consistently wet soil conditions

Wildlife value

The flowers attract bees and beetles during summer bloom, while the rose hips provide important fall and winter food for birds. Dense growth habit offers nesting sites and cover for small wildlife.

Common questions

When does swamp rose bloom?
Swamp rose flowers in June and July, producing clusters of pink, five-petaled blooms.
What growing conditions does swamp rose need?
This shrub prefers consistently moist to wet soil and grows best with full sun to part sun exposure, often along stream banks and pond edges.
What pollinators visit swamp rose flowers?
Bees and beetles are the main visitors to swamp rose flowers, drawn to the open blooms during the summer flowering period.
What habitat does swamp rose grow in?
Swamp rose is typically found in wetlands, marshes, floodplains, and along the edges of ponds and slow-moving streams.
Is Swamp Rose toxic to dogs?
Swamp Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for dogs (aspca.org).
Is Swamp Rose toxic to cats?
Swamp Rose is not on the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center toxic plant list for cats (aspca.org).
Is Swamp Rose toxic to livestock?
The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Swamp Rose as toxic to livestock.
Is Swamp Rose HOA-friendly?
Swamp Rose takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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