Nothing says it’s Christmas time better than the brilliant crimson fruits of the lowly swamp rose. This workhorse of wetland diversity hangs onto its hips later into the season than any of our native roses, and they are truly just at the peak of ripeness, now that a few frosts and buckets of rain have softened them up for the birds. So for our hardy overwintering omnivorous birds, the swamp rose provides a staple to go along with the scale insects, beetles, grubs, spiders, worms and other fare that keep them fat and happy.
No wetland or riparian project is complete on the floor of the Willamette Valley without a healthy dose of swamp rose. Even if you are going for prairie, shrubs like swamp rose (and snowberry!) provide structure and diversity. They can be mown, burned or grazed. On a three-year burn or mow rotation, swamp rose will bloom and produce prolific crops of fruit in years two and three. Of course in year three, you’ll either mow them down or BBQ them, but they are still part of the system. No matter your management regimen, they keep coming and doing what they do for us and the birds and insects they support.
We have over 20,000 swamp rose yet to sell. They ran big this year, with lots of rhizomes, so they are ready to grow if you’ll plant them.
Thanks to all of you doing this work. We need to do way more.
-George