Sheila, your CFM is a prince compared to mine, which is a single brown stick five inches tall with two and a half leaves hanging on precariously. I'm tempted to end his miserable life, but no, miracles do happen.

Magpie, how I'd love to steal your beautiful Therese. Is that yet another rugosa behind her or is it just TB stretching her arms?

Your TB looks beautiful, Magpie. Mine is diminished by stem girdlers sadly.

Sheila, honestly if it's not one thing it's another, and sometimes I wonder why we keep trying. In your case at least you still have plenty of "good lookers" in your garden.

My TB is regrowing new canes. There is always next year, Ingrid.

My Conrad F Meyer today looked lovely. Somehow, he had morphed into a fluff of pale pink. The photo does not really capture it.

Ingrid, that's just more of TB stretching out. She's getting to be quite large.

Sheila, stem girdlers normally attack TB and nearby John Cabot, but luckily they were unbothered last year and so were able to gain some more size than usual.

Here is another rugosa,

Souv de Philemon Cochet

TB showing more growth.

I do believe I see Agnes behind Cochet, Sheila. Therese seems to like your conditions and I really adore her lilac pink flowers. My rugosas were finally showing some little green leaves and by the next morning they were all gone. They left Wild Edric alone for years and now they're eating those flowers too. I won't break my heart over this, though: there are too many other blessings in my life.

It's 90° today so TB's blooms got fried, but this is from yesterday, the beginning of her spring flush. The blooms of this rose are definitely on the more delicate side, they don't stand up well to adverse weather, but later this week should cool down and I'll get to enjoy the rest of the buds opening. Love the fragrance, I look forward to this rose every spring now that it's hit its stride.

Speaking of delicate blossoms, it hailed here, but no damage.

Magpie, that first photo is lyrical in its beauty, the next one less so but I have a feeling that TB has the ability to turn into a large and handsome shrub. Not in my garden, I don't think, but that's life. I've really enjoyed seeing all these different varieties and can only imagine how fragrant most of them must be.

Thanks Ingrid, I actually don't mind the way it's stretching out and draping, I know it will fill out more with time but I actually find this fountaining shape to be romantic.

Charles Albania is another great Hybrid Rugosa. It was a restrained bush for me, and although the bush has strong Rugosa traits, the bloom has a much more refined form than the average disheveled petaled, Hybrid Rugosa. Take a look at the photos of Charles Albanel on HMFR, you will like them.

Moses.

I just ordered three rugosa roses bare root this spring. The company had staffing problems and spring weather challenges and they arrived late. They were already starting to open. But I potted them up as soon as they arrive and they took right off. Two of them are looking like vigorous growers and have leafed out already in the past 10 days. ‘Schneeköppe’ and ‘Roseraie de l’Hay’ and the third is 'Blanc Double de Coubert' and that one is growing, just not as well as the other two. I'm hoping to get them into the ground this weekend.

Shelia, so 'Roseraie de L'Hay' is not red? It is violet maybe? Yours are gorgeous and you have such a nice collection.

Did anyone mention having 'Schneeköppe’? It's supposed to get very large, I just wondered about what to expect. It is also VERY thorny with those tiny hairlike thorns all along the branch. Wondering how careful I need to be with that.

Prairie, my RdlHay is more ruby , crimson, purple than red. Ingrid does not like red, but I think she could love RdlHay is what I was trying to say.

@Sheila z8a Rogue Valley OR - you have an amazing rugosa collection and grow them so well. I planted Conrad Ferdinand Meyer last year and hope mine will someday look that good. Do you know of a source in the US for Souvenir de Philemon Cochet? I’ve wanted to grow it for some time but just don’t know of a source here.

I got mine mailorder from Suzy Verrier who has since died. She wrote glorious books about Rugosas and Gallicas. I found you really have to keep your eye out between Canadian nurseries and collectors. Spinosissimas are another group of treasures that are hard to source. There are pockets of these plants scattered about. This is one reason I want to keep the rare plant nurseries alive.

My husband is from Maine and I so regret not visiting Suzy Verrier when I went to see his family. She had a farm and restaurant on the coast. I thought she had more time than she did.

Dave, I just found it in Corn Hill Nursery in Canada. They have a wonderful list of hardy roses, including Wasagaming which you should also get. Look it up online. Of course the tariffs could have screwed this up.

Thanks Sheila! I’ll have to give Corn Hill a

try again. I ordered from them once a few years ago. The order was delayed in customs and lost some. I never reported it but following year I heard they didn’t offer shipping to the US but it looks like they may offer it again. I have been able to purchase a few wonderful OGRs and rugosas from Fedco. I’m not sure if they’re imported from Canada or if they grow them.

Sheila, here is my 'Agnes' from HCR. Reviewing my records, I planted her Spring 2018.

Four years later, she's still two tiny twigs. I'll be patient. She's a special lady in my book; definitely going to give her more of a chance than 'Belinda's Dream' because, as they day, she's just "another pink rose", and at least 'Agnes' has INCREASED in size versus dwindling down smaller each year.

Steven

Even my 'Harison's Yellow' and 'Soleil d'Or' from RVR are bigger.

Steven, that does surprise me about Agnes in your location. I find Agnes larger than Soleil or Harison's here. I know Agnes did not thrive in Alaska for me. I am hoping she gets enough sun there where you are.

I am surprised Agnes does so well in the heat here. The others ,too, do so well. Paul Barden said Soleil was the worst rose bush in his location, but not here.

Sheila, she was in extended morning and then late afternoon sun.

Where I've moved her to, she'll get more.

Interestingly, Harison's Yellow' was doing very well for me in the bed/location as Agnes (they were side by side). To be fair, he is seven, sorry, years older and was also very slow to get started. He spreads more via suckers than gained any decent height for me

Let's see if I have a picture of him...

I bet Agnes needs the new location. These differences are probably zone related.

I concur wholeheartedly.

The soil will definitely be better draining now; I'm shocked at how sandy the soil is in parts of my yard, but I suppose "Sand Lake" is aptly named!

This is my 'Soleil d'Or'; it got less sunshine than 'Agnes', but did better.

I'm debating putting it in the ground here or keeping it as a pot pet.

Oh the importance of location!

SdO has even bloomed a couple times and doesn't seem to be as effected by black spot as I anticipated so far considering the shared experiences here and the BS that will ravage my modern roses.

Soleil is such a beauty! I had had plants in Alaska that were alive, but could not bloom. Trying them here, they exploded in growth. I think it is great you are growing these treasures.

There was a Harrison's Yellow here planted under the drip line of a large Maple when we moved here in the 80s. It was so surprising to see it bloom well in that location. I have clay soil, pH 6 in zone 6. Probably z5 at that time. It is long gone and don't remember what happened to it. I wish I had understood at the time what a charming rose it was. I imagine it might be an old treasure if I still had it.

I love how this discussion has continued and I'm glad to see that rugosas are being planted and appreciated. Moses, you're right, Charles Abanel has beautiful blooms, although I like the "muddled" ones too on some of the rugosas. MiGreenThumb, I am amazed at your patience but I'm spoiled by my climate and haven't had to practice your fortitude. The rugosas seem to thrive in such varying climates given Sheila's success in spite of her very hot summers.

Ooof. Houzz failed to load a thanks filled post and several things, so my short: I also have Conrad Ferdinand Meyer.

Steven

Ooof. Houzz failed to load a thanks filled post and several things, so my short: I also have Conrad Ferdinand Meyer.

Steven

I have 'Wild Edric'. It is growing in my front yard, a very unpropitious place, so is restrained in size (I guess). But that is a good thing. since I don't have much room.

Oh my gosh, monarda, I wasn't expecting to see another Wild Edric, what a lovely surprise. I'm afraid though, that he does look a little crowded there and may need more room eventually. These pics are from 2020 before the great ground squirrel disaster when my roses were all eaten. I think WE may have been two or three years old.

Ingrid, what I should do is dig it up and give it away-- to someone with a country estate, perhaps. But I can't bear to. Plus I have so many garden (and house) chores that take priority. I am getting on in years .... don't have the energy I once did -- such as it was. Ironically, I originally bought it to give as a gift.

I was wrong, Monarda, my Wild Edric was at least five years old. Leave yours where it is; I so understand about age and energy loss, and many things are out of our reach now. We make it work anyway and enjoy our roses even when not all is perfection. The fragrance alone makes it well worth having Wild Edric.

These are the 3 rugosa roses I ordered from FEDCO - bare root. They were $23. a piece. I potted them up and they've been waiting for the area they are going to be ready.

This first photo is 'Roseraie de l'Hay' and it is more a pink than a crimson like yours Shelia. And out of the three, it's the only one that seems to be suffering. It started out looking healthy and green, but now some of the leaves are discolored and curling up and I found a caterpillar rolled up in one of the leaves. A little disappointing. I wondered if this rose is known for having any disease issues? It gets big right?

This second one is 'Blanc Double de Coubert' Looks kind of skimpy but the foliage is in good shape and it has one bud that hasn't opened yet.

This is the best looking one. No buds that I can see. 'Schneekoppe'. It is supposed to only grow 3ft x 3ft and pale lilac almost white blooms. And it has a second name. 'White Pavement'? That's not making sense to me, but...

I'm looking forward to seeing them in the ground and growing larger.

They do look good, Prairie. I do hope your baby RdlHay is the real one. Time will tell. Snow Pavement is another you need.

Well, I'm not sure how you can be sure you have the right rose. And I was looking at it earlier and I don't think it's going to make it. The foliage is starting to look bad in multiple places.

That is too bad, Prairie. I'll have to look up FEDCO.

Prairie, they are a bit mixed up in that Schneekoppe is Snow Pavement (a great one), not White Pavement which is Snow Owl. I hope they gave you SP.

It can be difficult to sort out what you get sent. I got my RdlHay from Greenmantle and Marissa is fantastic.

FEDCO is new to me but I hope they have a good source. I wish Suzy Verrier were still alive. Over time you usually can sort out the incorrectly named roses. Corn Hill Nursery in Canada has good rugosa photos on line. Suzy Verrier's book about rugosas is excellent. The sourcing can be difficult.

Well, it's a puzzle, Sheila. [g] FEDCO is a Co-Op and they certainly don't specialize in roses. I think the Tree/Shrub offerings is new. They started out selling seeds. Actually, I went back to their site again because I remember reading something about their sourcing. I started at the 'About' section. A very interesting company, and one I like to support because of their core values. You might find it interesting reading....

About Fedco

But...maybe not the best source for an antique rose. They do grow organically, and that i s important to me, among other things. I note in the catalog that they mention this variety was new this year. But they even describe RdlHay as ..'Deep purple-red to magenta double blossoms'. So, I will call them and ask about their sourcing. I'll take a look at Corn Hill Nursery's website and look for Greenmantle.

Since I am an organic grower, my strategy has to be very careful selection of plant material. I am loathe to introduce any disease into the garden. I will keep watchinng the development of RdlHay and if I can get a better picture of what is going on with the foliage, I'll post it. Not using it, is an option.

RdlHay will only improve if she is the true variety. I agree Fedco looks interesting but not a rose specialty nursery. All nurseries send occasional mislabels. Some do not know they have the wrong name for what they sell.

There was a nursery in Alaska that intentionally sold plants with the wrong name to confuse the competitors. I was told this by a competitor. What was so irritating was that I fell in love with one of their scots roses, but do not know it's real name and I have been searching for it ever since. I may be Haidee or Suzanne. Growing here it could develop differently to further compound the confusion.

IME, there are some suckering roses (rugosas and gallicas) that have what I call 'EEK a POT!' syndrome. They are OK for a few weeks or so in a pot, then they freak out. They get planted in the ground, and they are fine.

Here is another rugosa I love. Basye's Purple from ARE.

Interesting tales of nurseries. Imagine intentionally mislabeling?! Not so funny when you are stuck with a NOID.

Mad Gallica...interesting. It does make some sense that suckering rose might resent a pot. Well....I hope to get it in the ground soon. It will work or it won't and I'll have to look for another RdlHay to get that color I am after.

Thanks!

My Parfum de l'Hay and Sarah Van Fleet are both a sorry collection of twigs with not a sign of greenery or even little growth buds, while Therese Bugnet has some promising green growth on its canes. I see in my opening statement that tiny leaves were present which means critter predation and these two don't have cages. I wonder why I don't just give up, especially when viewing the gorgeous roses and companion plants here, but letting go of a dream is so hard. Wild Edric is down to two buds from its all-time high of 34, but there is new growth, albeit somewhat nibbled. It is such a see-saw of emotions!

Please keep at it, Ingrid. At least we have your voice here. I would dare any critter to eat Pink Surprise. Here it is a monster.

Sheila, your 'Pink Surprise" surprised me by being not very pink at all. However, who cares when it's such a lusty and gorgeous shrub rose. Do you have rebloom, as I gather it's not known to do that much? Also, is that euphorbia on the right?

I do have rebloom on PS, Ingrid, here. I too was surprised by the color. There is a White Surprise that someone on here has too. PS does start with a faint pink before turning white. Somewhat like Sally Holmes.

I am not sure about the name as it may refer to the "eye" stamens, I do not know. You really don't want this monster, but I would dare your ground squirrels to eat this one.

Ha! Given enough time, Sheila, they would and could. The new branches on Wild Edric are solid thorns like you wouldn't believe and still they're eating the leaves. These are super squirrels!

I cannot recommend Blanc Double de Coubert highly enough. Blooms all summer, and is always the first rose in my garden to bloom, with a massive, gorgeously scented flush.

I love how RdlHay keeps blooming through 90 F-!00 F heat here.