Rosa rugosa is one hardy garden performer. Any plant that can hold its own against salt spray and the ravages of coastal weather is inherently rugged, but that doesn’t always translate into a garden situation. It also means that if not pruned or properly cared for, it can grow a little rough around the edges. Thankfully, I have one specimen by our pool – a substitute of solace for not being able to make it to Ogunquit in the past few years – and it has reliably bloomed and produced a healthy fountain of foliage each season.
This plant has at least four seasons of splendor in it – the first flush of fresh and bright green foliage, the main summer show of pink, sweetly-perfumed rose blooms, the small persimmon-like fruits of late summer, and the spectacular golden fireworks exploding right now.
That’s a powerhouse performer, and more than makes up for its thornier aspects (it would seem that no other rose has as many barbs on a single stem). I like a plant that’s a little prickly; I can totally relate.
