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Old Roses: Rugosa
First mentioned in the 11th or 12th century, rugosas are named for their “rugose”,
or rough, foliage. The most carefree of roses, they usually are extremely hardy
and resist disease, shade, drought and neglect. All listed here are recurrent
unless noted; some bloom almost continuously. Many produce outstanding hips,
decorative as well as high in vitamin C. Many make good hedging plants. Little
pruning is required, only to shape or remove straggly growth.
Agnes
A rare yellow rugosa, Agnes has abundant spring blooms of
butter yellow with amber or buff tints, later fading to cream. Flowers are double
and similar to one of its ancestors, Persian Yellow, There is occasional repeat
later in the summer. Dense foliage is ferny and dark green on an upright,
spreading, 6' shrub. Easy to grow but needs room. (1922)
gr zone 3
Blanc Double de Coubert.
A stand-by of many, “Blanc”
has lovely, pure white, loosely semi-double, fragrant flowers opening from
blush-tinted buds. Flowers repeat well, and foliage is typical for Rugosas: dark
green, glossy and very healthy. This obliging plant will grow to 5' or
can be kept smaller with pruning and can be used as hedging. Red hips are high
in vitamin C. (1892)
or zone 2
Conrad F. Meyer
Large, shapely flowers are silver-pink
and similar in form to a Hybrid Perpetual. They have a lovely, rich fragrance, and
two flushes of bloom–early summer and an even better one in fall. The
bush is angular, 8-10', with the foliage and blooms appearing in the top half
of the plant. Thus it should be planted behind lower shrub roses or other plantings. (1899)
gr zone 4
Delicata.
Especially beautiful, lilac-pink flowers are semi-double, have good fragrance,
and form large hips resembling crabapples. It can have hips and flowers at the
same time. One of the smallest Rugosas, this compact, very hardy bush is seldom
over 3-4'. (1898)
or ƒ zone3
Fru Dagmar Hastrup
This rose is justifiably popular.
Delicate, clear light pink blossoms are large, single and cup-shaped, and very
fragrant. Foliage is a glossy deep green, and the large hips are scarlet and
contrast nicely with late blossoms. Autumn foliage is spectacular. Growth is
dense, and the shrub is a good candidate for a low hedge. Contrary to most, the
shrub is larger on its own roots than grafted. 3-4' (1914)
or zone 2
Hansa
Large, dark red-purple, fully double flowers have good
form and bloom over a long season on a healthy, hardy bush. Flowers have a
sweet clove-spice fragrance, and the autumn hips are red. At 5' –
7', this vase-shaped shrub can be used to make a large hedge. (1905)
or ƒ zone 2 a
Moje
Hammarberg.
This very hardy rose from Sweden
produces large, reddish violet flowers that are loosely double and show yellow
stamens. They produce a rich fragrance and are followed by tasty, scarlet hips.
Nicely shaped and low growing, it is suitable for ground cover. 2-4' (1931)
or zone 3
Parfum de l'Hay
Noted for its marvelous fragrance,
this rose produces large, double, cherry-red blooms on a 4-5' bush.
Recurrent in bloom, it does not set hips. Deep green foliage is smooth. Though
usually listed as a Rugosa, it is a hybrid of R. damascena and General Jacqueminot. (1901)
gr ƒ zone 3-4
Paulii
Also called Rosa rugosa repens alba, this is a vigorous, thorny trailing shrub with lovely,
delicate, single white clove-scented flowers scattered over the dark foliage
like stars. It is once-blooming, and it makes a dense ground cover or an
effective low barrier hedge. 3' x 12' (<1903)
or zone 2
Polar Ice (Polareis)
Double flowers of porcelain pink,
gradually fade to creamy white. They open wide, showing deep yellow stamens,
and have good repeat. Grey-green foliage is disease-resistant on this 4' shrub.(1994)
gr zone 4
Robusta
Deep, brilliant red blossoms are the joy of this large,
robust shrub. Blooms are single with wavy petals, light fragrance and yellow-gold
stamens. It has very good repeat summer through fall and makes a good, dense
hedge. Its smooth foliage is more susceptible to black spot than most Rugosa
foliage. 5' (1979)
gr ƒ zone 4
Rosa rugosa alba
One of my favorite roses, the beautiful,
single, fragrant blooms are good size, yet delicate in appearance and pleasing
in form. They are followed by large, shiny, orange-red, edible hips. Blooms
recur well into fall, so the bush can have the pure white flowers contrasting
with the hips. Very hardy and disease-resistant, the plants form a rounded
shrub. Petals are good in potpourri. 5-7'
or, gr ƒ zone 2
R. rugosa rubra
Very large, single, carmine flowers
with violet shadings are recurrent, strongly fragrant, and followed by
orange-red hips. Foliage is a pleasing dark green and has good fall color. The
variant R. rugosa Atropurpurea is
similar in every way except flower color which is wine-crimson. This harmonizes
more easily with the color of the hips. Both types have a shrub less upright
and more spreading than R. rugosa alba. 5'
gr ƒ zone 2
Rosarium Uetersen
Lovely, fully double silvery pink
blooms sometimes show coral shades on this very healthy Rugosa. The large shrub
forms a fountain shape, or it can be used as a climber. 8' (1977)
or zone 5
Roseraie de l’Hay.
One of the very best Rugosas, this is
a favorite with many. Luxuriant foliage sets off long, pointed buds which open
to richly fragrant, deep rosy red blooms. They are large, about 4 ½",
and lovely, with cream stamens showing at the center. A prolific bloomer, this
is good in the garden with pink or blue perennials. 5'-6' (1901)
or ƒ zone 3
Scabrosa
Big in every way, Scabrosa is vigorous in growth, large
in leaves, blossoms, and even hips. Fragrant flowers are violet-tinged crimson,
single and up to 5 ½" across, and hips are orange-red. Though larger in
overall size than is its presumed relative, R. rugosa,
it is refined and lovely in the garden. 6' (<1939)
or ƒ zone 2
Scarlet Fire
Spectacular flowers on a large, graceful shrub—this unusual shrub is somewhat slow
growing but worth the wait. Its one, long flowering season presents clusters of
flowers along the branches. Each flower is perfectly formed, with velvety
petals of fiery scarlet-crimson around yellow stamens. They are followed by
pear-shaped, long-lasting red hips. Free-standing it reaches 7' x
7', or it can be grown on a wall. (1952)
zone 5
Snowdwarf
Also called Schneezewerg, this fragrant rose has
snow-white, semi-double blossoms that open to show yellow stamens. Both buds
and blossoms are nicely formed, and repeat continuously. The later flowers
appear with bright scarlet hips. This dense, twiggy shrub has glossy, deep
green foliage. Some growers find this rose slow to become established. 4' (1912)
or zone 2
Souvenir de Philomen Cochet
This romantic flower of white with a
blush center is very double with outer petals opening flat, inner petals
remaining mounded. Fragrant and dependable, this rose has no hips but does have
handsome foliage. It is like Blanc Double du Coubert but for its very double
blossoms. 5' (1899)
or zone 4
Therese Bugnet
Leighton's favorite, Therese is like an extra-hardy Damask
rose, virtually covered with fragrant, double, lilac-pink blooms in June.
Blossoms recur every few weeks until fall. This reliable bloomer resists black
spot and insect damage but may be subject to mildew late in the season.
6-7’ (1950)
or, gr ƒ zone 2 a
Topaz Jewel
This recent Rugosa introduction
is a beautiful golden yellow with loosely double blooms that show deep golden
stamens. This lovely rose has some shortcomings: flowers repeat well, but, at
least in my garden, do not stand up to a wind and are short-lived, either on
the shrub or as cut flowers. The plant has some formidable thorns. If none of
this deters you, and you can provide wind protection, the shrub is healthy and
arching, and the flowers fabulous! 5' (1987)
or zone 4a
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