Rosa rugosa Alba - Japanese Rose

The Rose or Rosa rugosa 'Alba' is none other than the white-flowered form of the rough rose, a vigorous botanical rose that suckers and forms impenetrable thickets due to its dense and very thorny growth. Blooming from summer to autumn and with beautiful green and wavy foliage that turns yellow in autumn, it is perfect for a defensive hedge. Its pleasantly scented flowers, with simple crumpled petals, give way to large, fleshy and edible red-orange fruits, very rich in vitamin C. Very hardy and low-maintenance, it is perfect for coastal areas or gardens without gardeners.

The Rosa rugosa, or Japanese Rose, is a wild rose native to the Far East, inhabiting coasts and sandy dunes, with remarkable hardiness and good tolerance to poor soils. It is also one of the few perpetually flowering botanical roses. It grows in a dense bushy habit, with a rounded shape, reaching 1.50 m (5ft) in all directions or even more, as it produces new shoots from the stump. Its straight, highly branched stems are brown and covered in prickles. From late spring to autumn, they bear solitary roses or clusters of three, 6 to 9 cm (2 to 4in) in diameter, with 5 petals. The very pointed buds gradually open into flat cup-shaped flowers. Their texture is silky and velvety, and their pleasant fragrance can be perceived from several meters away. The foliage, abundant down to the base of the plant, consists of leaves with a wavy appearance, divided into 5 to 9 fairly dark, shiny leaflets. And at the end of the season, as the flowering comes to an end, the branches turn beige and the leaves a beautiful golden yellow.

If the passion for botanical roses is widespread, it is fully justified, especially in poor soils or difficult climates: these roses are not only the ancestors of our modern roses, but also generally more robust and very reliable. The Rosa rugosa 'Alba' is a floriferous, powerful yet delicate rose that catches the eye. It will find its place in a hedge, as it has substance and forms a thorny mass that is difficult to cross. It can be associated with cotinus for autumn colours, lilacs for their fragrance in spring, mock oranges for the same reason, and buddleias taking over in summer, but also with viburnums that show a very accommodating character. Finally, it is a very hardy, undemanding and tolerant shrub when it comes to soil, splendid in a flowering hedge. Its fruits, once deseeded, can be used to make delicious and vitamin-rich jellies.