Swamp Rose is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9 and shrugs off deer. Its flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
4-9
pH Range
5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Swamp Rose on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether swamp rose actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score swamp rose against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Swamp Rose is
Swamp Rose grows as a perennial and reaches around seven feet at maturity. It blooms pink from spring through summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Swamp Rose
Swamp Rose grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. Swamp Rose does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 110 frost-free days and about 400 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
7 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
400+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
110+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant swamp rose in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Swamp Rose prefers pH 5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Keep it in good form
Prune swamp rose to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — swamp rose isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Swamp Rose is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Swamp Rose thrives
Swamp Rose is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–9·Where Swamp Rose growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Swamp Rose can grow in these states:
See if Swamp Rose will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether swamp rose actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Swamp Rose in my zone?
Swamp Rose grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Swamp Rose?
Most growers plant swamp rose after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 110-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Swamp Rose need?
Swamp Rose needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Swamp Rose need?
Swamp Rose prefers soil pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Swamp Rose attract pollinators?
Yes — swamp rose's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Swamp Rose safe for pets?
Swamp Rose is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.