Rugosa roses, also known as Rosa rugosa, are a delightful and enduring addition to any garden or landscape.
With their remarkable beauty, distinct fragrance, and hardy nature, these roses have captivated gardeners for centuries.
In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of Rugosa roses.
We will explore their remarkable varieties, care requirements, and the many reasons why Rugosa roses have become a beloved choice for gardeners.
What Are Rugosa Roses?
Rosa rugosa is a rose variety native to Asia, where they love to grow naturally along the coast of beaches and in areas with dunes.
More specifically, these roses are from cooler Asian climates such as Japan, Korea, the northeastern parts of China, and lower Siberia.
These roses with delicate floppy petals are known for their medicinal value and ability to grow into robust shrubs.
Best Rugosa Roses
The following are some of the most beautiful rugosa roses, which are not only pleasing to the eye but also are known for their strong fragrant scent.
In general, Rosa rugosa flowers grow in shrubs which are usually about as tall as they are wide.
Also, the bloom always starts with five petals but comes in semi-double forms, while some rugosa roses have double blooms.
When it comes to variations, here are our hand-picked favorites:
1. Sarah Van Fleet (Rosa Rugosa)
The Sarah Van Fleet variation was first bred by Dr. Walter Van Fleet in the United States sometime before 1922.
It was later introduced in the United States in 1926 by the American Rose Society.
The rugosa rose was also introduced in France in 1928 by Grandes Roseraies du Val de la Loire.
This is one type of Rosa rugosa that has semi-double cupped blooms.
These rose bushes can grow up to eight feet tall!
Plus, the petals are edible.
This amazing rose blooms from mid-spring to mid-fall and needs a lot of sun.
It enjoys a sandy or clay-like loam and prefers the loam to lean on the moist side.
Covering the loam with a few inches of compost and then finishing with mulch can prevent water from pooling and becoming too wet.
Also, fertilization in this case is key for substantial growth.
2. Mary Manners (Rosa Rugosa)
The Mary Manners variety was discovered by Leicester Rose Co. in the United Kingdom in 1970.
These roses boast bright white or off-white blooms.
This Rosa rugosa is particularly susceptible to rust.
So, it is important to remove diseased leaves right away.
Especially since rose rust can spread through both water and the air.
Keep in mind that the temperature has to be between 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit or 18-21 degrees Celsius for the spores to successfully infect your roses.
3. Hansa (Rosa Rugosa )
The Hansa variety of the Rosa rugosa was bred by Schaum & Van Tol in the Netherlands in 1905.
This classic rose is known for its purple coloring and is loved for its incredible double-cupped petals that reach the size of a Peony’s blooms.
Another plus for this variety of rugosa rose is that it is bred to be hardy, resistant to drought, and very resistant to diseases including black spots.
Best of both worlds!
4. Sir Thomas Lipton (Rosa Rugosa)
The Sir Thomas Lipton rugosa rose was bred by Dr. Walter Van Fleet in the United States sometime before 1900.
The variety was also introduced in the United States by Conard-Pyle (Star Roses) in 1900.
The blooms of this rose are white with a hint of light pink and have large doubled flowers.
Other than tending to be wider shrubs than most other Rosa rugosa flowers, Sir Thomas Lipton roses also stand out because they are more resistant to shade, as well as being disease resistant.
However, they can get black spots more easily, so it is important to mulch and keep the soil from becoming too moist.
Pro tip: Avoid getting these rugosa roses wet by only watering the soil and avoiding the plant itself to prevent the mold from growing.
5. Thérèse Bugnet (Rosa Rugosa)
This type of rugosa rose was bred by Georges Bugnet in Canada around 1941.
These blooms come in a ruffled form with typically over 30 petals.
And the best part, the blooms are great to be used in cut flower arrangements.
So, you can proudly display your beautiful roses in your home.
Also, it should be noted that this variety of Rosa rugosa is tolerant to shade but that it should not be pruned.
Rugosa Roses Care And Maintenance
Although we have mentioned specific differences in caring for the many varieties of Rosa rugosa, there are many suggestions for their care that apply to almost every breed.
First, how should you plant a new rugosa rose in your garden?
How To Plant Rugosa Roses
You may want to start your adventure growing rugosa roses but do not know how to best plant them in your garden for maximum health.
Here is some information about the when, the where, and the how:
When To Plant Rosa Rugosa
There are two main ways to grow a new Rosa rugosa shrub.
Not only can you plant new seeds in the ground from scratch, but you can also move rose suckers from one plant to a different location.
- If you are starting with a seed, cold stratification is required.
This can be done by sowing the seeds in the fall for growth the following spring.
Or, you can do this on your own indoors and simply plant the germinated seeds in later spring.
- If you already have rugosa roses and want to grow a shrub in a new location, wait until late spring when the suckers are starting to show growth and move them with care.
This process can actually help the original plant by maintaining the rose and preventing overgrowth.
Where Is The Best Place To Plant Rosa Rugosa?
Most breeds of Rosa rugosa prefer full sun, so it’s best to choose a garden area that does not see shade.
However, certain types of rugosa roses are somewhat shade tolerant so this can depend.
You will want to make sure the soil you are planting in has moist soil that also drains well.
Also, make sure your new plant will not have too much competition from surrounding roots that are already established.
Luckily, all rugosa roses do well in sandy soil and even soil that is too poor for other plants, which can make choosing a location in your garden easier.
How To Plant Rugosa Roses In 4 Steps
Growing rugosa roses by seed are not typically recommended.
The seeds must go through the stratification process before they are put into the ground, which can be difficult.
Moreso, the problem is that germination is too unpredictable to predict what your blooms will look like, and you will not even see how they came out for a while.
Most gardeners start with suckers or with nursery plants.
To move some of your Rosa rugosa suckers to a new location, follow these steps:
How To Plant Rugosa Roses
- Step 1
Dig up each healthy sucker that has already shown some growth that you wish to move. Try to include as much of the already-grown root structure as you can for a healthy plant.
- Step 2
Once you have found the best place to grow your new rugosa rose shrub, take a trowel and loosen the soil in that area at least several inches into the ground. This will help the newly transplanted (and younger roots) take hold easier.
- Step 3
Next, plant each sucker in the loosened soil. Try to copy the soil depth that it naturally made for itself in the original location.
- Step 4
You will want to take special care that the soil around the new plants is sufficiently moist until new growth occurs. Give the new shrub some TLC!
When To Prune Rugosa Roses
First of all, keep checking your rugosa roses for disease because you will want to prune off anything that can affect the health of your plant.
Otherwise, pruning is best done in late fall or early spring to give your Rosa rugosa a fresh haircut before new growth occurs when the weather warms up.
Related: How To Prune Roses
How To Propagate Rugosa Roses
Allowing new suckers to grow freely allows rugosa roses to propagate.
If you think some of the new growth is causing overgrowth, weed out some of the most unhealthy suckers.
Conclusion
Rugosa roses have strong fragrant scents, are fairly disease resistant, and grow in many soil types.
This makes them a great choice for any rose grower.
A hardy rose such as the Rosa rugosa has great potential to grow into a shrub you will enjoy for years to come.
FAQs
Here are other types of roses you may like:
