Rosa Rugosa Alba White Rose

Rosa rugosa Alba Shrub Rose Alba or White Japanese Rose

Delicate and resilient at the same time, Rosa rugosa Alba, also known as Shrub Rose Alba and White Japanese Rose, is a vigorous shrub with glossy, wrinkled leaves and elegant white flowers. Rosa rugosa Alba is famous for its endurance - this beautiful rose can survive even the severest European continental climates.
Rosa rugosa Alba blooms in early summer through to late autumn. During that period, this medium-sized, bushy shrub produces masses of fragrant, pure white flowers. The flowers are 5-petalled and open, with yellow stamen in the centre. The tender blossom is in perfect balance with lustrous, leathery leaves. In late autumn. white flowers give way to large red hips, similar to cherry tomatoes, and the rich green foliage turns to gold, making these low-growing roses beautiful and noticeable well after the flowering season ends. 

Shrub Rose Alba is best grown in moist but well-drained soil, rich in humus or fortified with fertilisers for best results. It prefers full sun to partial shade, and when grown in optimal conditions, it can grow up to 1-1.5 metres high and across. Even though it prefers fertile soil, Rosa rugosa Alba can tolerate poor soil as well. When compared with other rose varieties, these low growing roses are pretty tough. Not only that it’s fully hardy in Britain and Ireland, Rosa rugosa Alba can grow in places where winter temperature hit well below -20 degrees. 

When it comes to pruning, Rosa rugosa Alba should be trimmed lightly in the late winter /early spring. Unlike other rose varieties, Rosa Rugosa Alba prefers to grow freely, and its bushy form is easily maintained without the need for extensive cutting and pruning.
Shrub Rose Alba is particularly well-known for its resistance to blackspot disease, and since it’s reasonably resistant to other rose diseases and common pests, it’s one of the simplest roses to grow. 

Planted in a row, Shrub Rose Alba can make a great fragrant hedge or a path border, but it also looks great as a specimen plant. Low growing roses such as Rosa rugosa Alba can be a highly decorative divider between one part of the garden and the next, or an ideal backdrop for your patio - the choice is yours. Since Rosa rugosa Alba can be planted in containers as well, you can add a touch of freshness to your balcony or porch, and enjoy the opulent scent of roses when sipping tea or reading your favourite book.

For more white flowering roses, take a look at our Rosa Banksiae Alba a variety of climbing Rose.