Beach Roses
My husband and I took a long walk this morning. We’re about two blocks from the Raritan Bay in New Jersey. It’s been really hot, but you’d never know it because of the wonderful salty breeze coming off the water.
While walking, I was thinking about what I might want to blog about today that might interest my gardening friends. All of a sudden, the sweet smell of beach roses came wafting over and there was my answer.
Beach roses, formally known as Rosa rugosa, if you must get technical, are pretty much maintenance free. You see them a lot at the beach or shore growing in sandy soil looking like they don’t have a care in the world. Well, they pretty much don’t. They are a hardy dense plant that can be grown as a hedge. Masses of small bristly thorns, great to keep out unwanted neighbor kids (just kiddin! Get it?). Most importantly they produces fragrant, large wine-red flowers from June to September, followed by large orange-red hips in early autumn which are great for making rose-hip syrup. Birds love them too!
So, when everyone else is still planting the ubiquitous “Knock-Out” roses, maybe you’ll want to give these a try instead. Not that we are knocking KnockOut roses, we just feel they are so overused, lately. You can’t walk a block in any direction without seeing them in someone’s yard.
Rosa Rugosa is not as profuse a bloomer, but the scent and autumn interest definitely makes up for it.
Give them a try, wait a season, and let us know what you think. When first planting them, as with any new planting, incorporate compost or other material rich in minerals and generously water until established. Once you see that the shrub is established, start a regular fertilizer regimen too and rosa rugosa will reward you with blooms for years to come.
Don’t miss rugosa alba too with white flowers. Mix them up if you’ve got the room.
