Rugosa Roses
Rugosa Roses are Tough!
If you live in one of those cold climates with snow and below zero temperatures, Rugosa Roses are the ones that you need for your flower garden. They are easy to grow and they flourish in adverse conditions. Rugosa roses can be grown by anyone who lives in the north. They do not like heat so finally, a rose that southern gardeners will have to pass over.
Rugosa Roses have crinkled leaves and that is where they get their name. Rugosa means wrinkled. Originally from Northern Asia, Rugosa Roses were established in North America in the 1700s. While in the beginning Rugosas only had single blossoms with a row of five petals like species roses, the hybrids do produce double roses that come in a variety of colors--pink, red, white and purple.
The Rugosa plant, when grown on its own roots, produces suckers each year which will cause it to spread out over time. If you prefer, you can plant the suckers and grow new plants from them. Rugosa Roses will keep blooming as long as you take off the dead blossoms, but some people leave them on to produce an abundance of colorful red and orange rose hips. These can be used in cooking and to make tea and contain a good amount of vitamin C.
Another characteristic of Rugosa Roses is that they are resistant to salt, whether from roads or from the ocean. This makes it a perfect choice for people whose yards are covered each winter with salt from snowplowing. It makes a good hedge, often growing six feet high and as wide as ten feet. Rugosas are often seen on lawns that border the highway or as a landscaping plant in parking lots.
Rugosa Roses grow best in well-drained soil that is moist and acidic. Because of its adaptability, however, it can grow in clay, sandy and rocky soil. It doesn’t mind full sun or partial. It is one of very few types of roses that can grow in zones 2 through 7.
Rugosa Roses are disease resistant but like any rose can still acquire a number of diseases, such as black spot and stem canker. It can attract any number of pests, including mites, aphids, borers and the nasty Japanese Beetle. Spraying will work on Rugosa Roses as on other rose plants. Even though they are hardy, regular fertilization can help keep them healthy and producing flowers.
Because of their ease of care, disease resistance, fragrance and hardiness, Rugosa Roses are extremely popular in cold regions where most roses do not survive the first winter. If you live in a region where winters are harsh, be sure to give them a try.