Swamp Rose is a native wetland shrub that grows on Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge on the edges of forests and in open areas. It is a multi-stemmed, densely-branched plant with abundant thorns that provides excellent cover for ground-dwelling wildlife species and songbirds that nest in its branches. The rose hips that are its fruit, may persist on the branches well into the next year. They have a high Vitamin C content. But because they are bitter they are not always eaten immediately after they ripen. Swamp rose only grows in areas with poorly-drained soil.