# swamp rose (*Rosa palustris*) The swamp rose is a beautiful flower that grows in wet areas. It has lovely pink petals and a sweet smell that attracts butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![swamp rose](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rosa_palustris_flowering_branch_001.JPG&width=800) Photo: User:SB_Johnny, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosa_palustris_flowering_branch_001.JPG) ## Appearance The swamp rose is a medium-sized shrub with arching, thorny stems and shiny green leaves. Its vibrant pink flowers have five petals and bright yellow centers, often followed by small red rose hips in fall. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Rosa ## Interesting facts - Ancient peoples used swamp rose hips to make healthy teas and jams! - Each beautiful pink flower only lasts a single day before new ones open! - Some butterflies use swamp rose as a safe place to lay their eggs! - The tiny seeds inside rose hips can stay dormant for many years, waiting to grow! ## Special abilities - **Water-Loving Roots:** Swamp rose can grow in soggy wetlands and even standing water, where most plants would struggle to survive. - **Thorny Defender:** Its sharp thorns protect the stems and leaves from hungry animals trying to take a bite, helping it defend itself. - **Hip Power:** This rose grows bright red, vitamin-rich rose hips that provide food for birds and other wildlife, aiding reproduction. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-200 cm - **Spread:** 100-150 cm - **Flower Size:** 4-6 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) — is a major pollinator of its flowers - **Eats:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses its leaves and young stems - **Eaten by:** [American robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats the nutritious rose hips ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify swamp rose? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is swamp rose? 100-200 cm ### How wide does swamp rose spread? 100-150 cm ### How big are the flowers on swamp rose? 4-6 cm ### When does swamp rose bloom? Summer ### Is swamp rose edible? Yes ### Is swamp rose toxic? None ### What is swamp rose's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Chenango Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chenango-canal) — New York, US · Historic Site - [Long Island Game Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/long-island-game-farm) — New York, US · Zoo - [Morris Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/morris-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe (Kassel)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bergpark-wilhelmshohe-kassel) — Hessen, DE · Park - [Hyner View State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hyner-view-state-park) — Pennsylvania, US · State Park [View all places to see swamp rose](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/swamp-rose) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Swamp Rose: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/swamp-rose)