Not in my garden, but Rosa canina as well as Rosa rubiginosa are naturalized in San Mateo County. A form of Rosa canina seems to be Rosa corymbifera (listed as a synonym for R. canina by the Calflora database), which Vintage apparently still has in stock.

Added with edit: I think I saw R. canina at a project area close to Sawyer Camp Trail last month; didn't have time then to pursue an ID, but I'm going back to that area tomorrow (and this time will have clippers; it was a very large rose with white single flowers). I certainly see R. rubiginosa all the time in areas around Hwy 92, growing on its own, out in grasslands.

This post was edited by catspa on Sun, Jun 16, 13 at 16:20

Thanks catspa. I certainly plan on growing rubiginosa and Greenmantle, a hybrid. Would prefer flowers that weren't white.

Will have to look when I'm on 92.

Diane

It's true most once bloomers get by with little water. Many ramblers and climbers can get by with almost no summer water once they are established. I have an Excelsa that hasn't been watered for years. Michael planted a row of climbers that he rarely watered. I don't bother watering with most species roses. Many roses will survive summer and revive in the winter. When I was using drip irrigation there was an entire bed, that included climbers, and shrubs, that accidently didn't get watered from July through September. The roses looked kind of crummy but I didn't lose any of them and they came back beautifully. I think the key is to help them establish themselves and grow deep roots first.

'Ballerina' is doing shockingly well on no irrigation at all, even with this winter providing only 5" of rain. I'm impressed!

Pamela, was hoping you'd chime in as I was thinking of your garden and how much you irrigate. Appreciate hearing your approach.

I plan on growing whatever roses I select in 5gal pots until the roots have begun to peek out of the holes so they'll have a good root system. Also assume that a good application of mulch will help.

hoovb, already have Ballerina and it gets no irrigation in a shady spot.

Kim, thanks for your thoughtful reply. What you say makes total sense. Hopefully my moister coastal part shade conditions will help reduce water needs. We live on the side of a coastal hill that has a spring at the top where it's always green even when the surrounding hills are brown. I think that moisture is always seeping down which is a good thing. I do plan on running either drip or soaker hose to these roses just in case they need a shot in the arm.

Diane

Kim does make sense(as always). I have rich clay here and abundant winter water. Since we have springs there could be ground water that the ramblers hit. I do feel Diane that your circumstances are closer to mine than Kim's, also you have the coolness of the coast to help. It will take some experimenting surely.

Diane, I also think you have a good chance, considering where you are (somewhat familiar, having worked on mitigation projects at the Shamrock Ranch for the Devil's Slide bypass tunnel and the 10th year monitoring of the Calera Creek constructed wetland). Pacifica is wet and foggy a lot of the time and there are more than a few seeps and perennial creeks, indicative of abundant soil moisture.

By the way, the rose in the project area I was at today was Rosa canina. There is one plant in a drainage by one of the watershed keeper's houses and two more plants up on a rise (no visible water nearby, but next to some old outbuildings) some distance from the watershed keeper's house. The Rosa rubiginosa also is found both in wet areas and on grassy knolls in the watershed. However, the entire area gets abundant winter rainfall and lots of summer fog (and looks really, really wet and lush compared to out here in Livermore).

Worth a try for sure. (I am also remembering that roadside Laure Davoust up in Petaluma).

Hello,

How close to the ocean is your garden? and what is the average day temperature during summer?

With no water at all for 3-4 months in summer during our annual California seasonal drought, band sized and many gallon sized plants might die from lack of water if planted right away in your dry garden.

Where day temps are more often in the 80's and higher, I would go with Ramblers which the East Bay park department says are drought tolerant in our area, and species and species hybrids.
For 20 and more years, in the woodland acreage at the Morcom amphitheatre of roses, in Oaklland , Califorornia grow many R. brunonni outside of the irrigation system, ( many are seedlings from a mother plant) a few R. moschata, and many Banksiae., as well as Alberic Barbier, all do fine with no water at all during our annual summer drought which lasts 3-4 months each year. I volunteered at that park and made a cultiver and rose species database in the late 1900's(crikey that makes me sound old) and early 2000's. Large trees shade these roses for 4-6 hours out of the day, but all but those in the deepest shade bloom normally.
My 'Albertine' was lost when moving and found months later crammed between several pots, with no water, and it lived and thrived.
Because so many of the Rambler roses are species hybrids, and said to be drought tolerant, here, I would try the re-blooming rose 'Mermaid' in a dry garden after it had grown to be 5-6 feet tall. It reblooms very well and is gorgeous.
I imagine a dry hillside planted with Mermaid, with a few Veilchenbleu , Kiftgate, Silver Moon, R. laevigata, Alberic Barbier, Susan Louise and other R. gigantea hybrids. R.californica transplanted after their roots are 3 feet long, or more. . If I never intended to water them. I might plant Califorinia lilac, ceanothus as mounds for the ramblers to ramble over.
If I watered deeply once a month as Gregg does, I'd try the same with the largest cultivars of Old Garden Tea roses, and a few Tea-Noisettes. Tea roses seem to be common among the found roses in warm climates, where live and bloom without being watered during summer, in California and the Southern States. I believe that any of the huge roses R. gigantea , for instance, may be drought tolerant to an extent because of the depth to which their roots reach.
R. palustris is said to be drought tolerant as well as wet tolerant, and it has a long bloom cycle too. A row of Susan Louise could provide more shade if needed, it is a gorgeous plant, grown on the ground or as a tree shaped rosebush with the lower canes removed.

I would add R. californica, I rarely remember to water mine and it is glorious. It grows to be more than 13 feet tall and has a big bloom cycle in June and scattered bloom of c. 15% for 4+ months after wards, I find that the scent of its leaves has an affect of aromatherapy.
The eglantine Meg Merrilees has the strongest foliage scent of any of the eglantine hybrids I've smelled, as good as the species.
R. primula would be a treat by the edge of a pathway, for its incense scented leaves.
Alba Semi Plena is also reported to be drought tolerant where summer temps average in the 70's F.
I spoke to a woman at the Old Rose celebration who told me of a large 'Anna Olivier' growing by a highway near Santa Cruz, California.
I'd try growing a large plant in a low-water zone.
I've documented a 'Grandmothers Hat' and 'Alliance Franco-Russe' both mature plants, in abandoned gardens in Oakland, where they received no water from a hose nor rain for 3-4 months out of the year, for 10 years (g.hat) and 5 years (the Old Garden Tea).
the grandmothers hat is a climber of c. 12 feet tall, and growing up a fir tree, the alliance f.russe was c. 8 feet in each direction the last time I visited it.

I hope you can use some of this info.
Good Luck,
Lux

Thanks catspa, appreciate your first hand knowledge.

Lux, really appreciate your taking the time to give me your experiences. We're about a mile from the coast on the side of a hill, lots of fog moisture and an underground spring that adds moisture to the hillside. Our temps are 60s to 70s except for those rare hot spells. I had my heat on this morning to take away the chill.

I've seen the roses at Morcom. Thanks for identifying brunonii for me. Wasn't sure. I already had planned on brunonii cascading down the slope and have one from Gregg in a 5gal now along with R. helenae to grow up a Deodar cedar.

Yes to Grandmother's Hat but she'll be in a different area growing thru a Bartlettina sordida from Annie's Annuals that's already an established shrub/tree.

I don't think there's enough sun for any of the Giganteas or Teas/Tea Noisettes but maybe...so passing them by for now. Yes to R. californica, already was on my list.

Rugosas for sure. Have ordered Magnifica and Belle Poitevine. And had also planned on an Eglantine as well and an Alba or two, especially Semi Plena if I can get one, everyone sells out fast. I did just order 2 Great Maiden's Blush plants so happy about that.

As to ramblers, have just ordered Blush Boursalt and Aglaia from Vintage if Gregg still has them.

Had planned on keeping all roses in 5gal pots til ready, something I do with most of my roses so they should have a good start. Will install soaker hoses for a boost if necessary.

Thanks again Lux.

Diane

Here is a link that might be useful: Bartlettina sordida from Annie's Annuals