Swamp Rose
Rosa palustris
Found in swamp forests, bogs, fens, seeps, streamsides, tidal swamps, beaver ponds. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you
76
Strong
Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?
Profile 100%
- Height
- 3–6 feet
- Spread
- 3–6 feet
- Light
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Usually moist
Space about 4.5 ft apart from its recorded spread, about 5 per 100 sq ft. Enter your bed size for a count
Will it fit your yard?
At a glance
- Leaves
- Deciduous
- Bloom
- Spring
- Fruiting season
- September to October
Not yet recorded · Life cycle
Recorded in 96 Virginia counties.
Natural habitats
Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.
1 of 5
Streams, rivers and their banks
Wet, open, peaty mountain wetlands fed by seepage, often with sphagnum moss.
Also found with this plant
Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 196 animals.
- Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinus
- Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolor
- White-throated SparrowZonotrichia albicollis
- Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicata
- Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius
- Yellow-throated WarblerDendroica dominica
- American CootFulica americana
- American RedstartSetophaga ruticilla
- American Tree SparrowSpizella arborea
- Barred OwlStrix varia
- Black VultureCoragyps atratus
- Black-throated Green WarblerDendroica virens
- Broad-winged HawkButeo platypterus
- Eastern Screech-owlMegascops asio
- Golden-winged WarblerVermivora chrysoptera
- Hooded WarblerWilsonia citrina
- Indigo BuntingPasserina cyanea
- Kentucky WarblerOporornis formosus
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- Louisiana WaterthrushSeiurus motacilla
- Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus
- Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus
- Pine SiskinCarduelis pinus
- Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus
Ecological relationships
Who uses this plant?
117CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA
Genus host records with ranges including VA · Rosa
- Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
- Achyra rantalisGarden Webworm Moth
- Acleris albicomanaRed-Edged Acleris
- Acleris minutaLesser Apple Leaf Folder, Yellowheaded Fireworm
- Acleris robinsonianaRobinson's Acleris
- Acleris semipurpuranaOak Leaf Shredder, Oak Leaftier, Oak Leafshredder
- Acrobasis indigenellaLeaf Crumpler
- Acronicta clarescensClear Dagger
- Acronicta fragilisFragile Dagger
- Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
Show all 117
- Acronicta impressaImpressive Dagger, Printed Dagger
- Acronicta longaLong-Winged Dagger, Darkish Dagger
- Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
- Ancylis floridanaStrawberry Leafroller
- Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
- Anticlea vasiliataVariable Carpet
- Apamea amputatrixYellow-Headed Cutworm Moth
- Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
- Archips cerasivoranaCherry Tent Caterpillar, Cherry Worm, Ugly Nest Caterpillar
- Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
- Artace cribrariusDot-Lined White Moth
- Automeris ioIo Moth
- Biston betulariaSalt-and-Pepper Geometer, Cleft-Headed Looper
- Campaea perlataPale Beauty, Fringed Looper
- Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
- Cerma cerinthaTufted Bird-Dropping Moth, Cherry Agate
- Chloridea subflexaSubflexus Straw, Groundcherry Sun Moth
- Chloridea virescensTobacco Budworm Moth
- Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
- Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
- Clepsis persicanaWhite Triangle Tortrix
- Clepsis virescanaGreeenish Apple Moth
- Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
- Coptotriche aeneaBlackberry Leafminer Moth
- Crocigrapha normaniNorman's Quaker
- Dasychira vagansVariable Tussock Moth
- Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
- Derrima stellataPink Star
- Dysstroma citrataDark Marbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
- Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
- Euchlaena effectaEffective Euchlaena
- Euchlaena obtusariaObtuse Euchlaena
- Eulia ministranaFerruginous Eulia
- Eulithis diversilineataLesser Grapevine Looper Moth
- Eupsilia tristigmataThree-Spotted Sallow, Brown Fruitworm
- Glena cognatariaBlueberry Gray
- Grapholita packardiCherry Fruit Worm
- Hedya nr.Large Bud Moth, Green Bud Moth, Off-White Hedya
- Hedya separatanaPink-Washed Leafroller Moth
- Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
- Hesperumia sulphurariaSulphur Moth
- Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Silkmoth, Cecropia Moth
- Hylephila phyleusFiery Skipper
- Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
- Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
- Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
- Hyppa xylinoidesCommon Hyppa
- Limenitis arthemisBanded Purple, Red-Spotted Admiral
- Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
- Lophocampa caryaeHickory Tussock Moth, Hickory Tiger Moth
- Lytrosis unitariaCommon Lytrosis
- Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
- Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
- Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
- Metaxaglaea semitariaFootpath Sallow
- Moodna ostrinellaDarker Moodna
- Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
- Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
- Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
- Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
- Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
- Oedemasia leptinoidesBlack-Blotched Schizura
- Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
- Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
- Olethreutes appendiceumServiceberry Leafroller
- Olethreutes permundanaRaspberry Leafroller
- Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
- Orthosia hibisciSpeckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
- Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
- Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
- Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
- Papaipema marginidensBrick-Red Borer
- Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
- Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
- Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
- Plagodis pulverariaAmerican Barred Umber, Barred Umber
- Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
- Platynota rostranaOmnivorous Platynota
- Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
- Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
- Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
- Proteoteras moffatianaMaple Bud Borer, Maple Shoot Borer
- Pseudothyatira cymatophoroidesTufted Thyatirid
- Pyrrhia ciliscaAmerican Bordered Sallow, Noble Sun Moth
- Pyrrhia exprimensPurple-Lined Sallow, Purple-Lined Sun Moth
- Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
- Sphinx gordiusApple Sphinx
- Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
- Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
- Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
- Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
- Synchlora aerataWavy-Lined Emerald, Camouflaged Looper
- Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
- Udea rubigalisCelery Leaftier
- Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
- Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
- Xylena nuperaRed Swordgrass Moth, American Swordgrass Moth, False Armyworm
- Zale lunataLunate Zale
- Cenopis saracana
- Hedya cyanana
- Menesta tortriciformella
- Notocelia culminana
- Xenotemna pallorana
18BeesSoutheastern regional records
Southeastern regional records · Rosa
Individual names are not available yet.
Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
19BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Rosa
- Alectoris chukarChukar
- Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
- Callipepla californicaCalifornia Quail
- Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
- Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
- Catharus ustulatusSwainson's Thrush
- Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
- Ectopistes migratoriusPassenger Pigeon
- Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
- Hylocichla mustelinaWood Thrush
Show all 19
- Lagopus lagopusWillow Ptarmigan
- Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
- Mimus polyglottosNorthern Mockingbird
- Myadestes townsendiTownsend's Solitaire
- Perdix perdixGray Partridge
- Sialia sialisEastern Bluebird
- Tympanuchus phasianellusSharp-tailed Grouse
- Vireo olivaceusRed-eyed Vireo
- Vireo philadelphicusPhiladelphia Vireo
Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening
No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects
Growing and identification
Plant details
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Hardiness
- Zones 4a–9b
- Soil pH
- Acidic
- Flower color
- Pink
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Growth habit
- Spreads by rhizomes
- Foliage color
- Green
- Fruit begins
- September
- Fruit ends
- October
Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.
Growing sources and scope
- Bloom · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differs) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Flower color · “Pink” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs)
- Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Fruit begins · “September” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Fruit ends · “October” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
- Growth habit · “Spreads by rhizomes” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
- Hardiness · “Zones 4a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Height · “3–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; USDA PLANTS, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Leaves · “Deciduous” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Soil · “Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Prairie Moon 2026 Cultural Guide differ)
- Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
- Spread · “3–6 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Conservation status
| Virginia rank | S5 |
|---|---|
| Global rank | G5 |
| VA status | Not verified |
| Federal status | Not verified |
In your garden
Will it fit your yard?
Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.
Choose a county to begin.
Growing cautions
- Spreads by rhizomes. USDA PLANTS lists its growth form as rhizomatous. USDA PLANTS
For planning only; these do not change the score or Fit.
Sources
- Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora
- USDA PLANTS
- Vascular Plants of North Carolina (NC Natural Heritage Program)
- Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025)
- NatureServe Explorer
- Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
- Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
- Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)
- Narango, Tallamy & Shropshire 2020, Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species, Nature Communications