Yes it is normal, for just about all rugosas once they get established. That is why I came to the conclusion that rugosas (unless grafted) don't belong in a "garden", they belong as a hedge or in an area they can grow wild like the seashore. I fought several rugosas for a few years in my client's garden, constantly digging up suckers that wanted to take over the garden. I had enough and dug up all but one mother plant (due to sentimental reasons on her part, otherwise I would have gotten rid of all of them). In the areas I thought I had thoroughly dug up the rugosas, there are shoots sprouting from what must have been roots left in the ground. So I am still working on it.

Yes you can dig up the suckers and transplant them, but they get quite a shock from it and aren't happy at all for a while (if they don't die). What I try to do is sever them from the main plant by slicing a sharp spade into the ground, then leave them be where they are for a few weeks or even a year, then transplant them where you want them after they have grown enough of their own roots. Alternatively you can dig them up and pot them up, place in a shady place and keep them well-watered for a few weeks to lessen the shock before transplanting to their new home.

What veilchen said, especially for the species (and you have the white version of the species, aka Rosa rugosa alba)!

Be very, very aware that if you transplant those offshoots (also known as "suckers"), once they are successfully established in their new homes they also will spread by sending out suckers!

Rosa rugosa is native to the Northeast Orient, but anytime it finds itself growing in some other part of the world with a similar climate & soil it is quite capable of making an invasive nuisance of itself (despite the drop-dead beauty of that gorgeously pure white flower).

I left mine to grow unfettereld on the edge of a bed. It has pretty much stopped spreading beyond that. I simply dug a trench around it and buried some of that black stuff used to keep grass out of beds. It works except fot a rare sucker that manages to get around the barrier.

Thank you, Jim, you have just inspired me. I have RR alba and rubra together and was just going to let them do their thing, but now I think I will shape a "free form" bed with plenty of room, but tidy limits,

Agreed all around

You can also take a big plastic planter, cut the bottom off and plant it around the roots, I have done so with a 8 gallon one, they cost like 5-6 bucks at a local garden store. well worth it imo if you want to keep it in the garden and not the hedge. I have done both, I created a hedge out of them in my old place.

{{gwi:225252}}

Good idea.

Another prolific suckerer is Jenny Duval. I have tried to get rid of it for years now. Maybe I'll try the pot idea.

Thanks all! I think the nurseries should warn folks about Rugosa's invasive habit. I think I will try to pot the babies, though, and plant them on the edge of our property this fall. We live next to an overgrown brushfield, so I don't have to worry about invading someone else's yard. And yes, I do love that pure white - and the fragrance!! I think that would make a wonderful hedge.

Thanks again!
Edie

There are TONS of plants that nurseries should warn their customers about, but don't!! For instance, wisterias are often (or usually) wildly invasive.

Yes R. Rugosa is spreading like wildfire here - they grow in 30 -40 yards wide thickets on nearly every shore , spread by the tide and wind. The seeds from the hips are transported by car tires inland - so they spread along many road too. The seeds from the hips of these are spread by birds and some animals ---- now they are all over. Never seen a rose spreading like that.

The scent in the summer time from the Rugosa roses along the roads is wonderful. But the roses have been a declared a national threat to native plants and eradication programs have been started.

Some Rugosa roses and Rugosa hybrids are great roses and not invasive like the species rose.