Swamp Rose
Rosa palustris
Last reviewed: September 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) 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
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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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.
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Swamp Rose? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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