Rugosa Rose Scabrosa

Perhaps the best of the single-flowered, repeat-flowering rugosa roses, Rosa rugosa Scabrosa is a vigorous, deciduous shrub rose with an upright, bushy, suckering habit and very prickly stems. The luxuriant, divided foliage has fine, deeply wrinkled, glossy, deep green leaflets. From July to September, the rose bears fragrant, single, deep pink flowers with a violet tinge and creamy stamens, attractive to pollinators. Don’t deadhead, as the flowers are followed by huge, round scarlet hips like cherry tomatoes, which persist on the plant into winter. Rugosa rose Scabrosa is good for hedging and seaside sites, and is a tough, very healthy rose. Rugosa rose Rubra holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Site: Tolerates exposure, including coastal exposure
Soil: Any well-drained soil; tolerates poor, light, sandy soils
Position: Best in full sun
Season of interest: Midsummer to autumn
Hardiness: Very hardy
Height: 5’ (1.5m) Spread: 5’ (1.5m) in 2-5 years