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.
I forwarded you blog to my neighbor who is rose crazy and does a nice job with a multitude of Knock Outs. She will flip and perhaps be inspired to try more of your varieties. Rain beginning here this morning. I am ready.
wow pretty flowers, by the way what is that beautiful yellow climber you have in the backround of the second picture? does it die back in winter?
Hi! I live in Boulder Colorado, about 4 blocks from where the foothills begin (and some of them begin pretty much straight up). I’d like to know, what is a good rule of thumb for how wide and deep rose holes (for planting roses) should be dug when it’s in pure clay. The clay edges of the rose holes are like cement. It’s an urgent question, but I understand if you don’t have the time. Happy rose gardening! –Maris (rhymes with “Paris”) Whitaker
Hi, we just planted a Roseraie de l’Hay. Does it bloom all summer long? Also, to have hips, should we avoid dead heading? I’m new to gardening and love the idea of hardy flowers!
Hi Rachel! Roseraie de l’Hay has one main bloom season (Spring) and give me a few blooms throughout the summer. It nice to have even one to tuck into a bokay — sends it over the top with fragrance. To get the extra blooms in summer you need to deadhead the spring blooms. But, if you don’t, you will be rewarded with beautiful red hips in the fall and they are over the top pretty in the fall garden. So, it is a win, win. Good luck. And, this rose needs NO SPRAY! Enjoy. And keep in touch. T