I suspect this Rugosa isn't going to be entirely happy in a SoCal climate; too much heat for it. Its also known to be slow to reach its peak, requiring several seasons to get properly established.

I have it in a location where it receives only morning sun and the shrub itself looks quite nice and there are lots of buds, but I just don't admire the blooms very much and wondered if they would improve over time. I have Therese Bugnet in full sun (and it's been in the high nineties the past four days) and it's thriving and actively growing new leaves and even a new flower after the main flush. I'm finding that many popular ideas about roses have to be tested, i.e. Abraham Darby and Mutabilis are doing extremely well with only 3 to 4 hours of morning sun. I think living at a higher elevation (1500 feet) in a hot and very dry location creates a micro climate that I need to learn more about in regard to what my roses like. For instance, Austin's Cottage Rose does better in full sun than Duchesse de Brabant. Who would have thought?

Ingrid

I've had Mrs. Doreen Pike for some years now and am charmed again every season by its apple green foliage and light pink frilly blooms. It is quite small here - never has it exceeded 3'x3' in all the years I've known it. It's a bit smaller than that this spring since I had to remove some canes due to cane girdler - the first time that dratted plague of my rugosas has struck this particular rose. I like MDP for her colors, for her carefree nature and her hardiness. She is totally cane hardy in zone 4 (but then, being 3' tall she is often totally under the snow.) I think that David Austin was not happy with her because she tends to hold onto her spent blooms - I've read that he dislikes roses that are not self cleaning. Other than that fault, I think she is a good little rose - here in northern Michigan that is. I can believe that she doesn't quite translate to southern California!

I agree with Annececilia. Mrs. Doreen Pike is a good rose here in zone 5 and her blossom life is actually very good compared to most other near-species rugosas. Cold-hardiness raises a rose's score here in Michigan but doesn't count for a thing in zone 10. Truth is, if I gardened in southern California, I can think of 500 other roses I would rather grow.

For me rugosas are exotic and different and therefore I wanted at least one or two which I thought were beautiful, and so I acquired Therese Bugnet and Doreen. I was also rather curious how rugosas would do here. I don't regret having acquired them for that reason alone but only time will tell whether they're worth keeping.

Ingrid

I wrote less than two weeks ago that I wasn't that happy with this rose. Shortly afterwards, I gave the rose a good dose of alfalfa and it has now rebloomed. Wow! The shape and color of the blooms are much more attractive now. I'm continually looking at this rose now and admiring it. I don't know if the alfalfa had something to do with the change or if the rose was just ready to show what it could do. The roses are continually teaching me to have patience and to give them a chance.

Ingrid

Any updates on this? This rose looks like a nice plant, and I'm considering purchasing it. Rugosas are typically carefree in my garden.

-Chris

I grew it in Alaska zone 3/4 and the blooms were pretty, but I thought the foliage color was too light green to compliment the medium pink bloom color. Somehow, they clashed. My other rugosas all had darker foliage, which I liked better.

Sheila, you're so right, I think it was the foliage that made me dissatisfied with Doreen and I no longer have it. It was also in a spot that was too hot for it and on a slope that made watering difficult. After some time I couldn't seem to keep it happy. I now have three plants of Wild Edric which looks pure rugosa, and I really like the darker leaves that set off very large reddish-purple, very fragrant blooms. The one in afternoon shade does best for me, but I want to keep them all because this thorny monster is now difficult to find since Austin found it to be "unsatisfactory" after a very short introduction period.

Ingrid,

At one time I nicknamed myself, "The Pied Piper-Johnny Appleseed," of hybrid rugosas. There was hardly a hybrid rugosa (20+ varieties), I didn't trial in my garden over a period of about 12 years. They do very well in my temperate, zone 5/6 garden.

I have now opted for mostly hybrid teas and their kin. As tough as hybrid rugosas are they spider mited very badly for me. In spite of the mites, they grew and bloomed very well, but the foliage looked pale and dingy by August. Their rugose, pebble grain foliage was a perfect breeding ground for those hordes of mites. All I could do was try to wash them off as best I could with an inverted watering wand spray. This was not very effective since their foliage is somewhat delicate and is not as leathery as hybrid tea types, and couldn't take the repeated treatments. Everyone who has grown hybrid rugosas knows their foliage is super sensitive, and cannot take liquid foliar feeding, or any fungicide, insecticide, or miticide without severe damage occurring.

Back to my reason for my post....

Unfortunately, I did not grow Mrs. Doreen Pike.

The three hybrid rugosas that I liked the best were: Roseraie de L' Hay, Henry Hudson, and Schneekoppe (Snow Pavement). You may want to look into these three, although how they will handle your warm conditions may be an issue.

A hybrid rugosa that is quite remarkable, that may work for you is Conrad Ferdinand Meyer. It is a huge bush, blooms abundantly with large many petaled flowers that remind me of a 'blousy,' hybrid tea or hybrid perpetual bloom. It has thorns on top of thorns, so be careful. I think it could take the heat you have. Its foliage is not particularly rugose, but beautifully vigorous looking. David Austin used CFM in his breeding program.

One last thing....hybrid rugosa petals can fry/crisp/wilt in the sun and heat. They are rather tissue paper like. Also their petals drop very quickly.

Thanks for the comments! Sorry Ingrid for hijacking your thread, but since it's from 2008, I don't think you'll mind :)

Yes, I noticed the foliage is sort of pale, which I'm not really a fan of, but I guess I would need to see it in person to know if it really bothers me or not.

Moses, I actually already grow Henry Hudson and Roseraie de L' Hay and like them both very much. I don't have Snow Pavement, but do have Purple Pavement which is one of my favorites. I was attracted to Mrs. Doreen Pike because it appears to stay on the smaller side, and I don't have room for another big rose like Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, although it does look beautiful.

Marlorena, Rosemoor looks lovely, but sadly doesn't appear to have crossed the pond yet. I wonder if it ever will. Have you grown Mrs. Doreen Pike?

-Chris

Chris, no I haven't tried 'Mrs Doreen Pike', I've looked at it once or twice as something I might like to try...

I'm sorry I wasn't aware that 'Rosemoor' hadn't crossed as yet. I'm sort of surprised about that...

Rosemoor is gorgeous, especially the flower from July. Of the ones I've seen I really like Schneezwerg, but I haven't seen any of the Pavement series. I've heard that Conrad can be quite a disease magnet, and I wouldn't have the room anyway. For now I'll stick with my Wild Edric bushes and evaluate them for a few more years.

I'm delighted to have this thread "hijacked" which just adds useful information and pretty pictures.

Chris, I grew Mrs Doreen Pike for a couple of years. She was healthy enough, but I too was underwhelmed. Wish I'd read Ingrid's assessment before I bought it. Trish

Marlorena,

I'm really impressed with your Rosemoor. Is its fragrance up there with the usual hybrid rugosa intensity? Also, how do its petals hold up, do they have any staying power? Thanks for your post, and for your attention to my questions! Moses

hi Moses,

I'm sorry it takes so long to get back, time difference and all that..

My rose is very young so I can't say too much about it at this stage, but as far as I can recall the blooms stand up well enough, and to the weather here... I wasn't disappointed in any way. The blooms are often somewhat muddled...but I don't mind that..it adds to the charm..and I'm so looking forward to this rose, this season... more than many others I have..

As for scent, it's a kind of old rosy scent, similar to but maybe not as strong as, found in 'Roseraie de l'Hay', if you know that one. I used to grow it, along with 'Blanc Double de Coubert' and the pink and white single Rugosa's, they are the only ones I know...

I like these eccentric Austin's and wish they would produce more of them, away from the usual type they produce...

I'm surprised 'Mrs Doreen Pike' is still offered here by them, considering their oft commented on mode of operations in removing varieties, sometimes ones that are quite popular.. it must have something going for it that I don't know about..