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Rosa palustris Marshall

Swamp rose

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderRosalesRose family and eight others
FamilyRosaceaeIncludes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
GenusRosaFrom a Latin name so old its meaning is no longer known
SpeciespalustrisFrom Latin palustre, “growing in marshes”

About plant names...

Swamp rose is a North American native.

Identification: These shrubs are 6-8' (1.8-2.4 m) tall, with multiple, thorny stems. Thorns are widely spaced, single or sometimes paired, and hooked, curving backward. They have a preference for wet areas. Leaves are dark green, 1¼-2½" (3.2-6.3 cm) long, roughly oval with pointed tips, with finely serrated edges. They occur in odd pinnate groups, most commonly with 7 leaflets, sometimes with 5, rarely with 9. Flowers are 1½-2" (3.8-5.8 cm) in diameter, solitary (or in small clusters), light to dark pink, with five petals and strong rose fragrance. They appear from June to July. Fruits are red, less than ½" (1.3 cm) around.

See our wild rose comparison guide for further information.

Online References:

Rosa palustris on www.carolinanature.com

Rosa palustris at the U.S. Forest Service Celebrating Wildflowers site

Rosa palustris at Illinois Wildflowers

Rosa palustris on

Rosa palustris at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Rosa palustris on the Connecticut Botanical Society's Connecticut wildflowers site

Rosa palustris at the Missouri Botanical Garden

References:

Newcomb, Lawrence, Morrison, Gordon (Illus.), Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Little, Brown and Company, 1977, p. 316

Peterson, Roger Tory, McKenny, Margaret, Peterson Field Guides: A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North Central North America, Houghton Mifflin, 1968, p. 256

Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4" (12 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain

Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain

Rosa floridana Rydb.

Rosa lancifolia Small

Rosa palustris Marshall var. dasistema (Raf.) Palmer & Steyerm.

Rosa palustris Marshall var. dasistema (Raf.) Palmer & Steyerm.

Rosa palustris Marsh. var. dasistema (Raf.) Palmer & Steyerm.

 

Rosa palustris description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

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Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 28 cm)

Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/25/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 4½" (13 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/28/2013 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia Naitonal Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)

Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/30/2013 · Moose Point State Park, Searsport, Maine
≈ 6 × 5" (14 × 12 cm)

Rosa palustris (swamp rose)

9/30/2013 · Moose Point State Park, Searsport, Maine
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

Range: Zones 4-9:

About this map...