Maine “beach rose” Rosa rugosa
I have always loved the “beach roses,” those bright pink and rose colored blooms that appear in late July and early August along the shore all over the New England coast. In August, you can often find buds, blossoms and hips all at once. Until fairly recently, I thought I’d try to find a friend or nursery willing to pack some Rosa rugosa cuttings or young plants and ship them to me in Washington, to try growing them into a hedge (instead of the ubiquitous blackberry hedges of the Pacific Northwest).
Rosa rugosa is originally a species of rose native to eastern Asia, particularly northeastern China, Japan, Korea and southeastern Siberia. It is often found on the coasts there. Originally introduced to North America in the mid 1800s, c. 1845, for its ornamental qualities, it spread rapidly all along the New England coast. Now, Rosa rugosa is considered an invasive species, or a noxious weed, depending on locale. In Maine, Rosa rugosa is classed as invasive.
Nootka Rose Image credit: brewbooks
As an alternative to importing Rosa rugosa to Puget Sound Washington, I’ve now altered plans to plant the Pacific Northwest native rose, Rosa nutkana, the “Nootka rose.” It is similar to Rosa rugosa in some respects, including its tolerance for boundary areas, and coastal weather patterns. It’s also inclined to produce hedges, so it might work even better than Rosa rugosa as a natural thorny barrier that will offer shelter and food for birds as well as attractive flowers and greenery.
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