“The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem For that sweet odour which doth in it live.” — William Shakespeare Many gardeners think roses belong only in highly cultivated settings, such as rose gardens. But many shrub and species roses naturalize well in hard-to-maintain places. Rosa rugosa , or the rugosa rose — named for its rugose, or wrinkled, foliage — is among the most trouble-free. There’s no need for chemicals with these roses, because neither blackspot disease, powdery mildew nor insect pests can gain a foothold on their tough, crinkly leaves. Japanese beetles are attracted to rugosas, but they hatch after the heavy June bloom and die before the encore in September. Rugosas are a great first choice for anyone new to roses or for any gardener looking for an undemanding shrub with multiseasonal interest. Many rugosas display colorful autumn foliage along with tomato-like “hips,” or fruits, that appear in fall and often persist into winter. Rose hips are edible, high in vitamin C, and provide forage for birds. Rugosa roses may be planted in difficult places–along a roadside or in a woodland or pasture, for instance — if they can be given well-drained soil and some sun. Once established, they get along fine with minimal care. The Pavement series of roses from Germany offers great, low-spreading forms for bedding and ground covers. ‘White Pavement,’ ‘Snow Pavement’ and ‘Purple Pavement’ grow to 3 feet tall and just as wide, with steady blooms and attractive hips. For a spreading shrub less than 2 feet tall, try ‘Star Delight’ with bright pink blooms. Three- to 4-foot shrubs good for the middle of mixed borders include ‘Grootendorst Supreme,’ with deep red flowers and ‘Furstin von Pless,’ with creamy white blooms. The tallest group of rugosas, growing 6 to 7 feet tall, make excellent hedges. ‘Hansa’ has purplish-red roses with cherry-red hips, ‘Jens Munk’ offers lettuce-green leaves and bright pink roses, and Rosa rugosa ‘Alba’ has white blooms and red hips. The tallest and meanest, ‘Robusta,’ has canes that bolt straight up to 9 feet, with red blooms and fearsome thorns. It makes a formidable barrier for anything you would like to keep out of your garden. There are many more rugosa rose hybrids. Most are fragrant, with a spicy, clove scent. Rose hybridizers over the years have bred out the hips, which increases flower production but reduces the plants’ charm and overall garden appeal. Some new hybrids that have kept the classic hips are mauve ‘Harvest Home’ and raspberry-red ‘Wild Berry Breeze.’ Last, and perhaps best of all, is ‘Frau Dagmar Hartopp,’ sometimes sold as ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrup.’ With its porcelain-pink blooms against a sea of green, healthy foliage, followed by rich red hips and orange autumn color, it is a great choice for any area that gets at least a half-day of sun. Jo Ann Nelson is a Master Gardener with the Westmoreland County office of Penn State Cooperative Extension. For more information about this topic, or about the Master Gardener program, call the extension office at 724-837-1402.

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