Earth Almanac: November/December 2008

Rose for All Seasons

A “rose is a rose,” unless it’s a swamp rose, in which case it is different than all others. This is the only member of the family that tolerates—in fact, likes—bogs, swamps, and poorly drained, acidic bottomland. Like other roses it thrives in full sunlight, but it also does well in partial shade. From Nova Scotia to Minnesota and Florida to Mississippi, its branches and thorns provide shelter for birds and small mammals year-round. In summer the nectar in its striking pink blooms sustains bees, butterflies, and other insects, which reciprocate by disseminating the pollen. Now the blossoms have given way to equally beautiful red fruits—“hips,” relished by countless species of birds and rodents, which reciprocate by broadcasting the seeds in their droppings. A cultivar with double flowers rather than the normal single one is widely available at nurseries. But wild swamp roses can be propagated. Collect the ripe hips. Wash the seeds thoroughly or then place them a warm place (76 degrees) for three to five months. Next place them in a wet, cold (40 to 42 degrees) place for three months. (An alternative method is to collect the ripe hips, dry the seeds, and then give them a five-minute bath in sulfuric acid.) Finally, plant them in pots with a seed-germination mixture and a slow-release fertilizer.