RUGOSA    

Rugosa Roses are great for beginners and for people who don't want to spray their roses.  This does not mean that I consider them second class roses.  Their rugged healthy foliage and repeat blooming are qualities I value.  Even better, they have a lovely fragrance.  Most of this group produce much fall interest with their large, colorful hips.  Also, most rugosas make great dense hedgers, especially if grown on  their own roots.  The leaves of these roses are very distinctive; they are thick and crinkled looking;  pests obviously find these leaves unappealing to munch on.  These shrubs will grow to 5 feet or more, but can readily be kept pruned to whatever height you want.

BLANC DOUBLE DE COUBERT  A semi-double, gorgeous, white, horribly healthy rose.  As do most Rugosas, it has a fine fragrance.  Health is EX

 

CHARLES ALBANEL  A lower growing shrub to 1.5 feet.  Nothing much to recommend it except that it shines where growing conditions are lousy.  A medium red bloom.  Health is VG

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F.J.  GROOTENDORST  A vigorous shrub with cluster of small crimson doubles with ruffled edges.  A tidy shrub to about 5 or 6 ft. Health is EX

FRU DAGMAR HASTRUP  My favorite rugosa has it all: delicate shell pink blooms, tinted foliage and great huge hips in the fall, and a marvelous fruity/spicy fragrance.  A lower growing shrub, usually holding at 3 feet or so.  Suckers readily on its own roots.  Starts blooming for me in late May.  Health is EX

 

HANSA  A classic looking ru  Vigorous and floriferous.  One of the more rampant spreaders by suckering, so it's great for covering wilder areas of your garden.   Health is EX

JENS MUNK  Dense, bushy growth and a strong pink semi-double bloom that has prominent yellow stamens.  Health is EX

 

MRS. ANTHONY J. WATERER  A vigorous thorny bush with rich crimson semi-double blooms.  Health is EX

 

MRS. DOREEN PIKE  A blush pink double bloom with a lovely old rose fragrance, bred by David Austin.    Health is EX

 

 

PINK GROOTENDORST  A sport of F.J. Grootendorst, having all the same attributes except color.  A lovely strong pink in clusters of frilly blooms.  Often the plant reverts to red and may have both colors -- a bonus!  Health is EX

 

R. RUGOSA ALBA  An elegant pure white single bloom.  As with most Albas, it has great fat colorful hips.  Makes a great upright hedger with study thorns to discourage traffic.  Health is EX

 

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TOPAZ JEWEL  Slightly less healthy than its siblings and with a smoother leaf.  Also known as Yellow Fru Dagmar Hastrup.  A  wonderful soft lemon yellow, semi-double, loose bloom.  Benefits from pruning back to avoid leggy canes.  Bred by Ralph Moore.  Health is VG

 

 

ROSERAIE DE L'HAY  A deep violet/red bloom on a dense hedging shrub.  Great hips.  Health is EX

 

SCABROSA  Richly colored deep mauve/pink single blooms.  Great color, but sloppier in form than the rest of this class.  Health is EX

SOUVENIR DE PHILEMON COCHET  Has a unique bloom in this group: the fully double flat bloom looks like a big white powderpuff.  Health is EX