Purple Pavement Rose

Rosa Rugosa ‘Purple Pavement’ (Photo: Phillip Oliver)

The oddly named ‘Purple Pavement’ rose is a striking rose in the “rugosa” category. Rugosa roses are tough, reliable and beautiful. They are sometimes referred to as “beach roses” because they do very well in the sandy, windswept conditions of the seaside. They are also referred to as “Japanese Roses”. The Latin word “rugosa” means “wrinkled”, referring to the wrinkled leaves.

Rugosa roses are great for people who are afraid of growing roses. They are easy-to-grow and do not require special treatment. Rugosas are adverse to being sprayed with chemicals and spraying will cause the leaves to turn yellow and fall. If aphids are a problem, a non-harsh spray, like insecticidal soap will be work.

Rugosa roses are shrubby and thorny with thick, dark green leaves. Flowers are usually single in colors ranging from pinks and purples to pure white. The flowers have a delicate, crepe paper quality with a nice fragrance. A heavy spring flowering is accompanied with sporadic flowers throughout the remainder of the season. Flowers are followed by large rose hips if the flowers are not dead-headed. The hips can be used to make rose-hip tea.

For best results, grow Rugosa roses in full sun or partial shade in rich soil that is well-drained. In light soils, plants can develop a suckering habit. Because of this, they are a good plant for erosion control. Rugosa roses make an attractive, impenetrable hedge or a striking statement in a mixed border.

In addition to ‘Purple Pavement’, the rugosa roses ‘Alba’ is a slightly larger rose with pure white flowers.