Nature Notebook – Wild Roses

The wetland floral show continues with the swamp rose. It is the only native rose to grow in wetlands. Swamp rose is the last of the rose species to bloom each year, perhaps because of the relatively cooler microclimate of the wetlands.

The invasive mutliflora rose also grows in wetlands (it seems to grow everywhere!). However, it blooms in late spring instead of mid-summer. Its white flowers are strongly fragrant…too fragrant for some. The swamp rose’s pink flowers are also fragrant. To enjoy their delightful scent, however, you must actually sniff the flowers.

Bumblebees are the rose’s primary pollinators. It’s a good thing bumblebees eat pollen because that is the only reward offered by the rose…no nectar.