A winner of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.and among the highest rated roses by the American Rose Society, Rosa rugosa 'Alba' may be regarded as one of the world's most perfect roses! This ancient shrub has been grown for centuries in Korea, China, Japan, and in Europe where records go back as far as 1870. Like all rugosa roses, it is extremely cold-hardy, having a natural range in Asia as far north as eastern Siberia.

 

While White Rugosa roses bloom heaviest in the spring with displays of extremely fragrant  flowers, they also bloom sporadically into fall. The Rugosa name comes from the Latin rugosus, which tranlates as full of wrinkles as the thorny branches are adorned with distinctively wrinkled glossy leaves. All rugosa roses are tolerant of harsh conditions, including wind, poor soil and salt spray; growing right up the edge of the sea in Japan.

 

Rugosa roses grow well in full sun as well as dappled shade and adapt well to mixed borders, hedges, or solitary specimens. The papery white flowers are followed by nice size hips that are loaded with Vitamin C. As a bonus, the  green healthy foliage turns into a color show of bright yellow and orange in Autumn.

 

Rosa rugosa 'Alba' is not usually found in garden shops, but may be mail-ordered from companies like EuroDeset Roses. Use this discount code to receive a 15% discount when ordering from EuroDesert Roses: GLEUROSES