Roseraie de l’Hay is a rugosa rose introduced in 1901 and was named for the French rose garden of the same name.
Technically rugosa roses are species roses native to eastern Asia, but to me they are a bit of heaven on earth.
I have several of these beauties in my Zone 5b garden. When these roses are blooming our entire garden is filled with their beautiful fragrance. If someone new visits our garden during this time, the first question is always, What is that?
In addition to beauty and fragrance, the upside to rugosa roses–they are tough, trouble free and need very little maintenance. But, you need some room because these beauties grow to be around 6′ X 5′ in my garden. An extra bonus … rugosas produce large red-orange rose hips that are very high in Vitamin C and I am told make great jelly. We just let the birds enjoy them.
Roseraie de l’Hay is a good repeat bloomer for me, but nothing compares to that first bloom of early summer … see video below!
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 – 9.
I left my rugosa rose in Oklahoma when I moved. Your post reminds me, and inspires me to plant another here in Alabama! Thank you.
They are so rewarding. Glad you are going to have another! Rugosas sure add to the magic and romance of spring!
A masterpiece for sure! Thanks for the tour Teresa!
Your garden is beautiful. I love picket fences. They set off the flowers so magically. Thank you. I enjoyed my coffee and the smell of the flowers. Just gorgeous.
This is beautiful Teresea!
How would you recommend pruning them? In my neighborhood (zone 4) folks tend to simply mow over their rugosa roses in late fall and they have no trouble coming back in force the following spring–but I’ve never seen a de l’Hay before–is it any different, to your knowledge? Thanks!
I find it is best to prune after first bloom so you don’t interrupt next years bloom but you are correct, they can be pruned hard and come back strong. I also thin them by taking out the oldest canes to keep them fresh.
I don’t prune my rugosas very much but they can take pruning. I have pruned them by a third after the first flush of bloom to control size. I have also done a very hard prune but it has taken more than one season for them to get back to full bloom. I too have heard that many people mow them down. I would lean to the advice of those growing in your area.