Types of Rugosa Roses

White and Light-Colored Varieties

• Alba has a single white flower. Semidouble to double varieties include Blanc Double de Coubert, Marie Bugnet and Albo-plena. White Grootendorst has fringed petals, and Polareis has a slight pink blush. While most rugosas range from white to red, there is a pretty pale yellow variety called Agnes. Belle Poitevine, Therese Bugnet, Turbo, Jens Munk and Wasagaming are all semidouble to double pinks, and Pink Grootendorst has pink-fringed petals.

Dark Pink and Red Varieties

• Vivid dark pink double flowering varieties include Hansa, Charles Albanel and Roseraie de L'Hay. There is a single red flowering variety called Rubra, but most of the reds are semidouble to double. They include Darts Dash, Hansaland and two Grootendorst varieties called F.J. Grootendorst and Grootendorst Supreme that both have fringed petals. All of the reds are not clear red, but rather a deep rose red.

Easy Care

• Rosa rugosas are popular because of their easy maintenance; in fact, in some areas they are considered invasive species. Yet they are not without problems. Diseases and insects typical of roses also attack these roses too, but the rugosas just resist them better than hybrid teas and floribundas, for example. Watch for signs of black spot, powdery mildew and aphids, common to almost all rose varieties. Good drainage is essential and helps rugosas stay disease resistant.

Other Uses

• The rose hips on some varieties are prolific, like on Blanc Double de Coubert or Fru Dagmar Hastrup, and range from orange to red. They are often used in teas, jellies and honeys. The often fragrant petals are used in potpourris, vinegars, butters and sometimes eaten fresh in salads. Rose hips can be eaten fresh and have been used in the past for medicinal purposes. Both petals and hips are used in perfumes and fragrances.