Rugosa rose

Profile

Family

Rosaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

2 m

Spread

2 m

Growth

very fast

Lifespan

50 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 3–9

Shade tolerance

partial shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

dry – very wet

pH

4.5 – 6.5

Synonyms

Apfelrose, Japan-Rose, Sylter Rose

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit (raw, cooked): jam, tea; 10 tons per hectare correspond to approximately 1620 calories per square meter. Blossoms (raw, cooked): flavoring. Tender early spring shoots (cooked) and seeds (rich in Vitamin E) can be powdered for flour or dietary supplements. Leaves are suitable for making tea. Young leaves can be used as a flavoring, for acidity, or in tea preparation. Blossoms can be used as a seasoning, for beverages, or as nectar.

Medicinal: Fruits are very rich in vitamins A, C (0.8g/100g!), E, minerals, flavonoids, bioactive compounds, and essential fatty acids. The leaves assist with fever, the flowers promote circulation and can aid in loss of appetite, digestive and menstrual issues, as well as problems with the spleen and liver. The root is beneficial for coughs.

Other uses: Salt- and pollutant-tolerant hedge for coastal winds; ornamental plant for erosion control on sand dunes. A hedge that is tolerant to salt and pollutants and can withstand strong coastal winds is ideal for protecting sand dunes from erosion. This hedge serves not only as a decorative element but also helps to protect the environment and preserve the landscape.

Growing

Prefers a well-draining soil but can thrive in most soil types, including dry and heavy clay soils. Thrives in a sunny location with a neutral soil, intolerant of waterlogged soils. Tolerates maritime exposure. Plants should withstand temperatures as low as -50°C without damage, with disease-resistant foliage. Highly decorative and can spread freely but is relatively easy to control. Several named varieties exist. 'Scabrosa' is said to be larger in all parts, including fruits, but has not significantly enlarged in our conditions. The flowers have a clove-like scent. Thrives when planted alongside leeks, parsley, mignonette, and lupines, but cannot tolerate boxwood plants. Planting garlic nearby can protect the plant from diseases and insect damage. Easily hybridizes with other members of this genus. Plants of this genus are particularly susceptible to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seeds. Rose seeds often require two years to germinate. This is because they may need a warm spell after a period of cold to mature the embryo and reduce the seed coat. One way to shorten this time is to scarify the seed and then place it in moist peat soil at a temperature of 27-32°C for 2-3 weeks (by this time, the seed should have absorbed water). It is then stored at 3°C for the next 4 months until germination begins. Alternatively, it is possible to sow seeds that have been "green" harvested (fully developed but before drying on the plant) to germinate in late winter. This method has not been fully tested yet. Seeds sown directly after ripening in a cold frame sometimes germinate in spring, although it can take up to 18 months. Stored seeds can be sown as early as possible in the year and stratified at 5°C for 6 weeks. It may take 2 years to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough. Plant them out in summer when they are over 25 cm tall, otherwise let them grow in the cold frame over winter and plant them out in late spring. Semi-ripe wood cuttings with a heel, in July in a shaded frame. Overwinter the plants in the frame and plant them out in late spring. High success rate. Hardwood cuttings from the current year's growth. Select pencil-thick shoots in early autumn, about 20-25 cm long, and plant them in a sheltered spot outdoors or in a cold frame. The cuttings may take 12 months to establish, but a high success rate is usually achieved. Division of runners in the dormant season. Plant them directly in their final position. Layering. Takes 12 months.

Notable

Special features: forms many runners (rhizome barrier or cut back); despite its intoxicating scent, beautiful flowers, dense foliage, and the largest fleshy hips, it is fought as an "invasive neophyte"; there are over 200 species of wild roses, other cultivated ones include: dog, vitamin, apple, alpine, and damask (flower) rose.

Origin & habitat

East Asia - North China, Japan, Korea. Naturalized in several locations.

Marshes, damp forests, pine heaths, and dry uplands. The landscape provides a variety of habitats for numerous plant and animal species.

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