I have a large patch of species roses derived from cuttings taken from wild plants of R. carolina and from an R. palustris plant purchased from a NC garden. They were placed on opposite sides of a wet drainage area but have since blended together. I was initially surprised that R. carolina seemed to more vigorously invade the wet area through suckers than did R. palustris. My question now is how to tell the species apart as they are very much alike in terms of appearance of stems, leaves, flowers, hips and prickles; phenology; size; etc. "Plant Life of Kentucky" by Ron Jones separates them by 5-7 leaf teeth per cm that are 1 mm high (R. carolina) versus 9-11 teeth per cm that are 0.5 mm high (R. palustris). This is not working for me. I would appreciate any suggestions or insights as to how these two species may be distinguished.
I don't know or grow carolina, but I've always heard that the "rolled" stipules are characteristic of R. palustris (see the stipules photo I posted here, a while back).
Thanks for your suggestion. I looked at your picture and will check stipules on my R. palustris this year. I now have plants from three sources. Thanks again.
Just looking at photos here of R. carolina, it appears to have flat, broad stipules. It also appears to have quite straight prickles, whereas R. palustris tends to make downward-recurved fish-hook prickles.
Several websites claim this rose is remontant. Supposedly, it not only reblooms, but abundantly so. Is that just a line to sell plants, or does this rose really rebloom?
Wow. Palustris itself answered. Lol. Hi palustris, do you rebloom? hehe. I think it's the Antique Rose Emporium that sells the "reblooming swamp rose" and I think RVR has it too. They list it as "rrrr," as in very remontant. I think I'll get one at some point. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with it.
Most wild types in Florida are once-flowering. But we grow one I collected in the wild (several photos of it here) in the Green Swamp, Sumter County Florida, probably 30 years ago. It is absolutely continuous-flowering. And not just a flower here and there in the heat of summer -- LOTS of flowers all the time. Some nurseries (especially Florida nurseries) are growing our clone, so in that case, they are telling the truth. My photos here on HMF that say that it is growing at Florida Southern College are all of that clone.
As someone that's grown a lot of species seed for the first time, including palustris, it's crazy how different and vigorous they generally are compared with modern types.
But apparently it keeps the suckers quite close to the main plant. The second it looks like it is going to be a thug it's going straight on the bonfire!
Had to look up thug. The root-ball and the suckers above ground of it look like the ones of a villain/brute. (invasive) You might already start piling up the stake. But not as high as in The Hague last new years eve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0Lrn_aBfvQ
