They are called rugosa roses and they are quite hardy. They'll survive just about any adverse condition that you can throw at them. They can grow to be real monsters, though. If you want a rugosa that stays a little more under control, then get one from the "Pavement Series". Just do a Google Search for "rugosa roses cultivars" and you will get a lot of info on the various flower colors, scents, hip formation, etc. You can do a separate search on the Pavement series. I have several Purple Pavement rugosas and I highly recommend those. Their scent is heavenly and they bloom throughout the summer. They also put on a good show of hips in the late summer/fall.

You mentioned climbing roses, but I've never heard of a climbing rugosa. True that rugosa roses are very tolerant of salt spray and can be seen everywhere in New England along the dunes by the sea but they are large shrubs. However there are many climbing roses that will grow in your area. They need some care and attention as do most plants, but I don't consider them "high maintenance". I'd suggest a search online for climbing roses. Another good climbing plant is clematis. Lots of color and there are types that bloom at various times of the season. Hydrangeas are also good, but you should look into some of the newer types along with the large blue-flowered ones that we all see near homes along the shore. Some new hybrids have much longer blooming periods. Another good plant is the daylily (Hemerocallis). Although they are not shrubs, they are easy to grow and if you choose the reblooming types you'll have color all season. They come in almost any color you want except blue. Best of luck in your new home.

Hi shetland and welcome to the forum. :-) I am also looking to add climbing roses next spring. I wonder if you will have some kind of structure already in place for those or are you going to have to plan for that too? I have Hydrangeas and I love them. They make a big impact when they are in bloom. If you are hoping to use them around the foundation of the house, you might want to consider using some evergreen shrubs too, because the hydrangeas won't look very good during the winter. I have a boxwood in front of mine and that works for me.

Thanks for all the info. I have spent the last couple of hours on-line looking up pics. I really like the look of the purple pavement rugosa- wow! My next question is, when would I order the plants and when would I plant them? Any recs. for places to order from? I am planning on also speaking with a local landscaping person to see what their thoughts are but I would love to be able to have a few resources if I decide to order the plants and plant them myself.

Good to have you joining us, Shetland. I'll second Prairiemoon2's advice that you add a few evergreens mixed in with whatever you plant that's deciduous since winter tends to be long in New England & it's nice to have something that looks good in the winter to draw attention from the foundation and bare twigs. Some evergreens that you might want to look into include chamaecyparis (AKA false cypress), rhododendrons, mt. laurels (AKA Kalmia latifolia), andromeda (AKA Pieris japonica), heather, or some of the smaller needle-bearing conifers. Although they are called everGREEN the foliage comes in varied colors (ie PJM rhododendrons have maroon winter leaves and some of the heathers are silver, gold or bright orangy-red in winter.) Additionally, plants with interesting fruit will feed the birds and other critters (wild visitors add interest to your winter garden) as well as add color: hollies, crabapples, and bayberries all have fruit retained into winter.

Bill RI's suggestion of clematis is also a good one - shrubs and clematis tend to complement each other, the blossoms are lovely and come in various colors, season of bloom, and sizes, and I've found them relatively easy if I have the patience to wait for them to settle in and give them an appropriately sized trellis, obelisk, or shrub to climb. (Starting with good sized plants helps, since the tiny ones from the big box store often struggle.)

Since I'm probably quite a bit colder than you are, I can't advise on when to plant, etc., but I will suggest that you check out your soil and do soil improvements before you start planting anything. Often the soil around houses needs work as the process of construction causes compaction that can last for years, and it's not uncommon for subsoil to be what's around a house (& some builders even sell off the topsoil . . . ) Add organic matter, whether it's well rotted manure (that's what is available for me in my rural area), compost from your local municipality, leaves collected from all your neighbors and chopped by running your lawnmower over the piles, or dried composted manure from your local big box; the organic matter will help whatever ails your soil, since it loosens clay soils, helps sandy soils retain moisture, and supplies slow-release nutrients to your plants. Have a soil test done to see what else you soil might need for plants to grow well. Others here can give you directions on how to get soil tests done in MA, probably through UMass extention service (?)