Unknown Wild Rose

29 May '06 8:15 pm

Hi,

When we moved in to this house there was the remains of a garden someone had a long time ago. The only things that were left from long ago was a Peony, that bloomed like crazy, and a rose bush that was all overgrown and badly neglected. At that time, when we moved in, the rose would get leaves but never bloomed.

My wife's mom, who is an amazing gardener, said we would dig it up and throw it out.

Well, it never did get dug up. 4 years ago mom had a Bobcat brought in to tear out some Lilac bushes that were monopolizing the back yard. (they were huge!) While the Bobcat was here, mom also had him groom the north side of the house that was all overgrown with thistles and while he was doing that, he went in to the front yard to turn around and flattened the rose bush. Broke everything off down to the ground.

I thought it was dead, but the next year a new growth began. It had 2 blooms that year. Last year it had several. This year it is even bigger with promises of more blooms than ever.

Mom said it was a wild rose. I would like to know what you guys think.

The poor rose is being crowded by the pine tree next to it. It must have been planted when the pine tree was a lot smaller. The root of the rose bush is quite large. Mom said we will dig it out as soon as we have a place ready for it. But if we move it now, don't we risk losing the blooms this year? She said we don't need to dig out all the root to move it. Is that right? When is the best time of year to move the rose? Is it worth saving? What kind is it?

If you can answer any of these questions, I would be truly grateful.

Christopher

P.S. This is what the rose bush looks like today. You can see the pine tree. Poor thing is in the shade most of the time, but it dose get the morning sun. Plus a pic from last fall.

29 May '06 9:05 pm

Dear Christopher,

You have the immense luck to have in your garden, one of the best Rugosas wild Roses: Roserai de l' Hay!! It is one of the most beautiful among them, and of the toughest ones. It is repeat flowering and fragrant! Its introduction is on 1901.

I happen to have "its rival" with the single flowers in my garden, two of them: Rosa Rugosa Scabrosa. I prun them , giving them a round short form every early Spring/end of Winter, and they perform marvels! These ones produce more red hips than yours.

Regarding the brown spots, IF they are caused during a windy weather,it is just because of it. IF they are caused after hot spells, it is the lack of potassium, which helps a lot in such cases ; or, the lack of all the special elements that all roses need in their soil. Generally, these Roses (Rugosas) are of the healthiest varieties !!

Moving a blooming Rose in early Spring?? Have some pity on her, dear Christopher!....Let this procedure for late Autumn, when you will cut back properly -- and in balance, both its root and stem systems and she will support better her immence shock (because she's an old lady...).

Good luck! But you are already so lucky having such a Rose in your garden!

30 May '06 2:00 am

Rugosas are supposed to be totally bug-proof, and unaffected by air quality - for example city pollution. I've only once ever spied a very small family of aphids on mine - they must have got lost in transit, looking for New Dawn! I love its ribbed leaves - and the red rose hips - and then, of course, the flowers! A truly lovely rose.

Unknown Wild Rose

Unknown Wild Rose

Rugosa Rose, "Roserai de l' Hay".

Lovely Rugosas