Rosa x rugosa Thérèse Bugnet - Shrub Rose

Rose Thérèse Bugnet, born in Canada in 1950, is a sturdy bush accustomed to harsh winters. This hybrid of the rugosa rose combines the vigour and health of botanical roses with the repeat flowering of modern creations. Large and decorative all year round, it stands out for its visible red dogwood wood in winter, its fragrant crumpled roses on a beautiful light green foliage from late spring to the first frost, its beautiful orange-red rose hips washed with red, and finally its autumn foliage in shades of gold, bronze, and copper. It excels as a hedge, but also thrives when planted in a flower bed and kept shorter through pruning. This rose, which fears heatwaves, is particularly adapted to cool climates in summer.

Rosa x rugosa 'Thérèse Bugnet' has the genes of Rosa rugosa, a vigorous rose from the Far East, as well as those of various North American wild roses and a modern repeat flowering rose. When allowed to grow freely, this rose forms a beautiful bush that can reach a height of 1.60 to 1.80 meters (5 to 6 feet), sometimes more depending on growing conditions. Regular pruning will keep it at around 1.50 meters (5 feet) in height and 1.30 meters (4 feet) in width. If not grafted, it tends to spread laterally through suckers, making it valuable for forming impenetrable hedges. The branches of this rose are dark red and almost devoid of prickles. The deciduous foliage is abundant and disease-resistant, composed of leaves divided into 5 to 9 leaflets with a lightly toothed edge, carried by red petioles that turn warm colours in autumn. Its beautiful semi-double flowers, 8-10 cm (3-4in) wide, with crumpled petals, open in a very bright pink colour and then fade slightly. At full bloom, they reveal a beautiful bouquet of yellow stamens that attract pollinators. The flowering starts quite early in the season, towards the end of May, and continues in successive waves until October if the soil remains moist. The fragrance of the flowers is described as fruity with notes of lemongrass. In the case of this Thérèse Bugnet rose, it seems that hot summers inhibit the formation of flower buds for the following season. The plant produces a few large round fruits that turn orange-red at maturity. Persisting on the bush for a long time, they enhance its charm at the end of the season.

Rose Thérèse Bugnet, very hardy and low-maintenance, is essential in a garden that embraces nature. While the passion for botanical roses and their direct hybrids is not widespread, it is fully justified, especially in poor soils or challenging climates: these roses are not only the parents of our modern roses, but also generally more robust and reliable. "Thérèse Bugnet" is a rose full of charm, bringing the garden to life in all seasons. It can be planted in a hedge or shrub bed. To accompany it, consider, for example, the roses Nevada, Robusta, or Westerland. It can also be associated with Cotinus and deciduous Euonymus for autumn colors, lilacs for their fragrance in spring, mock oranges for the same reason, as well as viburnums that, like it, display a strong character.