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White Rugosa Rose

Rosa rugosa 'Alba'

Regular price $8874
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Delivery and Shipping

Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50 $9.99
$50 - $99.99 $14.99
$100 - $149.99 $16.99
$150 - $198.99 $24.99
$199+ FREE

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Plant Profile & Growing Essentials

Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Reblooming, Flowering, Fragrant, Disease resistant, Salt Tolerant, Drought resistant, and Attracts pollinators

Specifications

  • Botanical Name
    Rosa rugosa 'Alba'
  • Height
    4-6 ft
  • Width
    4-5 ft
  • Growing Zones
    2-7
  • Sunlight
    • Full sun
  • Growth Rate
    Fast
  • Flower Color
    • White
  • Leaf Color
    • Green
  • Fall Color
    Red/Orange & Rose Hips
  • Native
    Yes
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Bloom Period
    Late Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Late Fall
  • Fragrant
    Yes

Planting & Care Instructions

Where to Plant

  • Sunlight: These roses thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light daily. While they tolerate partial shade, you will notice fewer of those signature clove scented blooms and a less dense growth habit if they don't get enough sun.
  • Soil: Rugosas prefer well drained, slightly acidic soil but are famous for handling tough conditions like salty air or sandy spots. If you have heavy clay, mix in some organic compost at planting time to improve drainage because they cannot stand "wet feet" or soggy roots.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, provide 1 inch of water per week to help the deep root system establish itself. Once mature, White Rugosa Roses are incredibly drought tolerant, though a deep soaking during extreme summer heat prevents the foliage from yellowing or dropping early. Inconsistent watering during the bud stage can lead to smaller flowers and fewer of those beautiful red rose hips in the fall.

Pruning Tips

This rose blooms on a mix of old and new wood, so the best time to prune is late winter or very early spring before new growth starts. Think of it like a thinning hair cut: remove about one third of the oldest canes down to the ground every few years to encourage fresh, vigorous stems. This keeps the center of the shrub open for airflow, which is the best way to prevent the rare cases of leaf spot or mildew.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a balanced, slow release rose fertilizer in early spring as the first leaves emerge to fuel the initial bloom flush. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers after mid summer, as this encourages soft, leafy growth that won't harden off properly before the first frost. Using a layer of wood mulch around the base is often enough to provide the extra organic nutrients these rugged plants need to stay healthy.

Dreamy fragrant blooms - The glorious snowy blooms of the White Rugosa Rose (Rosa Rugosa 'Alba') are highly fragrant, featuring the classic English Rose scent. The white single blossoms fill your landscape with their perfume while the lush leafy beauty of the foliage and ornamental fall Rose Hips add interest for 3 growing seasons every year!

The pollinators adore these perfumed beauties, each crowned with a gorgeous ring of golden anthers. Clusters of large flowers smother the deep-green foliage all summer long! Fall brings ornate, shiny seed pods that decorate the autumn in the harvest tones of yellow, orange and red hips! Persisting on the shrub all fall, and throughout the mild winter as well, these Rose Hips can be used in crafts, dried floral arrangements, feeding songbirds, and even been used in tea, medicinal and culinary delights!

So very versatile and adaptable, you'll enjoy their carefree nature! Featuring low water requirements once established, Rugosa are often used as Fire-scaping barriers and in out-of-the-way areas. Salt is no problem for these Beach Roses, nor does the salt along your road or driveway give them a reason to balk Hardy throughout chilly USDA growing zones 2 through mild zone 7, there's little that fazes these tough beauties!

Planting and Application:

Shrub Roses are great large hedges and back-of-the-border landscaping shrubs, to highlight smaller perennials, Roses, or other plantings. Rugosa Roses are impressive-sized barrier plants that are fantastic for scented screening and property division. Tough, hardy and resilient, you can plant long rows or groupings of these shrubs without any effort.

Perfect as barriers to deter foot traffic and trespassers, the strong, tall and thorn-covered canes will make anyone think twice before crossing through them! Create Firewise landscapes with these winter-hardy pure white, single flowers while feeding your populations of beneficial pollinators.

Tolerant of salt spray, coastal conditions, and a wide range of climates, Rugosa Roses are perfect for privacy and screening your home from the street, or from the neighbors. Line your driveway or separate your front from the backyard with a row or cluster of lush foliage and fragrant white blossoms!

Cottage gardens and mass plantings are equally lovely uses for these Shrub Roses. From woodland and naturalized plantings to more formal applications, these shrubs blend right in. Fantastic anchors for foundations or for softening the corners of hard structures, the White Rugosa accents large areas quickly!

A free-flowering Rose bush accents like nothing else, lending that classic wild Rose look and adaptability to modern landscapes, formal plantings, or informal country styles alike!

The fragrance lends itself to your outdoor garden rooms as well as perfuming indoor vases and bouquets! The Moon Garden-worthy, bridal-white blossoms look lovely with their backing of matte, dark-green leaves!

  • Large Snow-White Blossoms!
  • Extremely Fragrant - Classic Rose Scent!
  • Fall Interest - Ornamental Reddish-Orange Rose Hips
  • Cut Flower & Dried Crafts & Pollinators Galore!
  • Late Summer Bloom
  • Easy Care Hardy Adaptable Shrub
  • Barrier Plants, Specimen & Privacy

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Rugosa Roses flower the most when planted in the full sun. Plant in a location with good air circulation in at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, preferring morning sun to dry their leaves of dew. Handing extreme cold like a champ! Tough, adaptable and disease-resistant, Rugosa Roses have stood the test of time and are long-lived shrubs that feature vigorous growth and strong canes. Plant these in enriched, highly organic, well-drained soil. Preferring moderate, yet consistent moisture, Roses despise soggy, water-logged soil, so be sure to plant in an area with good drainage. Rugosa Roses require occasional water once established and are among the easiest-growing Roses available!

Fertilize your Rose 2-3 times a year with fertilizer geared for Roses for a healthy long-lived plant. Low maintenance once established, Rugosa only requires pruning in early spring to shape them, clean out the interior, and control their size. Avoid deadheading if you wish to enjoy the Rose Hips in the fall. Read all you need about pruning Roses Here, winterizing your Roses Here, and un-wintering Roses in the spring in our #ProPlantTips Garden Blog!

  • Full Sun Lover
  • Moist Enriched Well-Drained Soil
  • Regular Fertility & Moderate Moisture Needs
  • Prune Early Spring & Deadhead For New Blooms
  • Mulch Very Well
  • Disease Resistant - Deer & Salt Spray Resistant - Cold & Heat Tolerant

Rugosa features incredible fragrance, lovely single blooms, and that gleaming pure white flower, belying their tough-as-nails nature. Enjoy years of three-season beauty and interest for the cost of a high-end floral bouquet! Order your own gorgeous White Rugosa Rose Bush today by ordering from NatureHills.com before they're gone!

Rose Bush FAQs

Where Is The Best Place To Plant Rose Bushes?

Rose bushes need a protected location with access to the morning sun and flower best in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight a day). Choose a location in good, enriched soil that drains well and has good air circulation.

What Is The Best Month to Plant Roses?

You can plant Roses any time if you are able to provide enough consistent moisture and attention. The easiest times of the year to get Rose bushes established in your landscape are in spring after the last frost date, and in fall about 4-6 weeks before the first frost.

Do Roses Come Back Every Year?

Rose bushes are deciduous woody perennial shrubs and will return bigger and better each year.

How Do I Find Rose Bushes & Trees for Sale Near Me?

Make your life easier and your yard happier by shopping for Roses at NatureHills.com online nursery. You'll find a massive selection of Rose bushes for sale, including many lovely Tree-form varieties!

Choose the right shrub for your area by first finding your growing zone by entering your zip code in the field above the Plant Highlights section on our product pages. Narrow down your options by plant hardiness zone, sun availability, and size requirements.

Place your order, knowing it's backed by the Nature Hills Nursery product guarantee and protected by Plant Sentry™, which helps ensure regulated plant materials aren't sent to prohibited areas.

Expect to receive your plants at the appropriate planting time for your growing zone when temperatures are safest to ship through and into.

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