I was so pleasantly surprised with BPR. She’s planted on a hill and has many serious thorns. The flowers don’t last long but the color is incredible. No filter/editing on those photos!
She’s in a spot with very poor sandy/rocky soil, high humidity and black spot/blyte pressure, and still does wonderfully! She gets 9+ hours of southern sun and is such a trooper. I did treat with heirloom’s regiment when planting, as well as fish fertilizer twice this season since the soil is junk. However, I feel like she does not need nearly as much care as my other roses. I will say as a sprout she had what looked to be black spot on the baby leaves, however it never took hold?? Incredible. And now in our rainy fall season there is not a hint of black spot or other disease. Love this rose! Very pleased and can’t wait for her to fill out on the hill.

Truth be told, I am a hybrid tea snob. I always turned my nose up at species and old heirlooms. But after moving to acreage, I needed something vigorous that would take up plenty of space. Given that a rugosa will propagate by runners, I decided to give it a try. My first bed (for six of them) did not get enough sun, and my bushes bloomed once then started pouting.

Even so, they did bloom once (and have been moved) and the first blooms were breath-taking. The color is a true magenta, but the petals are complete velvet. Unlike most new rose bushes, the fragrance was compelling. Its probably going to be next year.

This lovely rose proved my snobbery wrong. How nice to be misguided!!!

USDA Zone 7B (Ft. Smith AR metro)

I’ve had this rose for a couple of years and it didn’t do much except put up a thorny spindly stalk. But this year it put out a whole bunch of leaves and flowers which are glorious! I have over 150 roses ( and have planted many more which are no longer with me) and have never seen a color like this one. I’m excited to see how it will develop as it gets bigger and has more blooms!

I planted two of these this year. Hardy and quite beautiful. Very unique in its foliage and color. Color Goes so well next to other roses. Really love this rose.