How to Grow and Care for Rugosa Roses

I love roses, I really do.

But every so often, as I’m battling a stupid black spot infection, I start to think about ripping all my roses out and planting something easier. Maybe some pretty sedges or a handful of ornamental alliums.

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But then I see and smell those gorgeous flowers, and I decide to keep pushing on. And to try out rugosa roses. These beauties can be every bit as visually appealing as the more fussy types, but they’re incredibly tough and disease-resistant.

Do you live in an area that gets exceptionally cold and figured roses weren’t going to be a part of your life? Are you constantly dealing with powdery mildew? Swear you’ll scream if you see one more rose aphid? Rugosa, rugosa, rugosa!

This species has earned a legendary reputation for its disease resistance. You almost wouldn’t know they’re related to tea or antiques.

Excited to get to know these sturdy but showy plants? Here’s what we’ll talk about to help make that happen:

Depending on the specific cultivar or hybrid, these roses can grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 7.

There are even a few hybrids that will survive as far south as Zone 9. That means just about everyone in North America can grow one of these tough but pretty plants.

Rugosa roses are plants of the rugosa species in the Rosa genus. They’re also known as beach, Japanese, or seaside rose, letchberry, and beach tomato.

That last name should clue you into what the hips on this plant look like. They’re large and juicy with a reddish-orange hue.

Those hips are part of what make this rose stand out from other species, and