The only reason not to plant it is if you are afraid of negating the warranty. Since the thing is much more likely to thrive/not die planted in the ground, that barely makes sense, but this isn't the first time I've run into west coast nurseries having little understanding of frost.

BTW, I've had issues with rugosas not appreciating pot life.

I'm not sure why they said that.......and I would tend to ignore it. But then I am not in a zone 5 climate :-))

Rosa rugosa 'Alba' is about the most cold tolerant rose I can think of - USDA zone 2. It'll fly through a zone 5 winter! And rugosas are not the least bit frost sensitive (as would be expected for a shrub hardy to zone 2).

Like any other shrub/woody plant, fall is a time for major root extension, which is why fall planting comes so highly recommended. And soils stay warm well into late fall or even early winter, depending on air temps. New plantings begin to establish quickly.

btw, the first frost date has nothing to do with ground temps or soil freezing. That doesn't happen until well into winter and extended periods of below freezing weather

I would plant it. I just did the same with a gallica I just recently picked up, though we will surely get frost this month and I'm surprised we haven't already. If it was a tender zone-pushing rose I might reconsider, but you should be fine.

You all do realize that first or last frost date has no relevance to planting anything other than temperature sensitive plants........annuals, tender perennials. If the plant is fully root hardy for your zone, then frost is a non-issue!!

I've planted floribundas two weeks before first snowfall and they came back beautifully the next spring, so I take a very optimistic view of what roses can handle. I'd stick it in the ground myself.

was it mail order?? ... if so contact them and ask them why ... and i would ask them why they shipped it if it cant be planted.. crikey.. i searched area code to find out the are in OR ...

how tall is it ... if relatively short.. just get a cardboard box ... and put it over it during said cold night period ... at night when frost is expected ...

i agree .... dont screw with potting it .... just a giant PIA ... just multiplying your odds of loss ...

and wont it be leafless in a month or so ... so who cares of the leaves get ugly ... they are probably going to fall off early due to digging and shipping anyway ... or is this some evergreen rose????

aw hell.. just do it... you have more experience in your area than they do ...

ken

Thanks, all -- I'll go ahead and plant it.

I'm well aware frost has nothing to do it. It's the soil temps that matter. Which is why their very clearly stated instructions threw me for a loop. We have at least 2 full months, probably longer, until ground freeze.

Sounds like they have one set of instructions whether you get a tender tea or a rugged rugosa. I’d not worry about frost protection.

tj

i figured the longer you can keep the leaves on.. the longer it can convert sunlight into energy ... and thats the only reason to protect it.. from some freak early frost.. though it is october .... it getting to the usual time for frost in our MI ...

and there is a good chance the digging and shipping sent the leaves into dormancy anyway ...... so why bother ... eh??

ken

^^ There were no leaves on it; not sure if they took them off for shipping, or they naturally fell off.