After reading that rugosas are shade tolerant, I tried Hansa in part sun (4-5 hours) and it was miserable. Poor growth and poor bloom. Since rugosas in general don't like our hot weather here I didn't try it again.

When happy it is a 5X5 shrub with a big spring flush followed by repeat bloom. I wouldn't call it a thug but it needs a serious amount of room. Size can be controlled by pruning by that's not a task for the faint hearted as it has serious thorns!

In Ohio I had a hedge of Roserie de l'Hay which is very similar. Foliage always perfect and one of the first to bloom. I'd jump at the chance to grow it again (just not here in SE VA).

Why not rescue your other one and plant the two of them together? They'll take a couple years to establish but it would really be a great spring show!

IME rugosas are not shade plants. Agree that it is not a small plant, and to look good requires some pruning. The biggest issue I, personally, have with putting rugosas in very prominent spots is that they don't look particularly good during the winter. If you can get your hands on Therese Bugnet, that solves the winter problem.

Had Hansa once upon a time, loves to spread once established.

I had Hansa in full sun at my old house and after an OK spring bloom it had long gangly leafless sticks the rest of the year. It was absolutely pathetic, and nothing like other rugosa such as Linda Campbell which is fabulous for me. Hansa was one of two roses I started with as a gardener, and if the other one had been like Hansa I would have given up on roses. Fortunately the other one was Champlain, which was the opposite of Hansa in being easy care and lush, so here I am on the Roses forum...

Cynthia

Last spring I planted a two year old, field grown, own root Hansa, It grew very well, put out maybe 3 blooms and that was it. This year, same rubbish, maybe 5 blooms in total which come and go so fast that I never enjoy them. It is about 3x3 now, I think the tiny Purple Pavement I have in a pot which I got own root this year has bloomed more. If my Hansa does not shape up next year it will be removed!

I recently visited Evanstown, IL, and saw what I think is a Hansa at the university. It had some blooms on it and was quite beautiful, working playing well with other plants. There are tons of what might be Purple Pavement. Never was tempted by Rogusa before, but now maybe I will try some....

Hi Sheila,

I know you wrote this a while ago, but I was admiring your beautiful garden! I see that you have Hansa with some hardy geranium and I would like to do a garden bed like this with some rugosas as the backdrop to geraniums, astrantia, catmint, but was worried about the suckering. Did your hansa sucker? How did you control it? I am new to this stuff and am not sure how folks remove suckers from a rugosa in a garden bed, or if its a good idea at all. I live in western British Columbia.

Thanks very much!

M

Never a problem.

! Gosh! That is so beautiful in such a naturalistic setting. I'm growing a couple from cuttings not Hansa, but white grootendorst. I'd be really interested to know if anyone is growing Hansaland?

Michele, I love a naturalistic look. If you wanted more control you could get a grafted plant, but I never found my roses spreading a problem.

Yes, I love a naturalistic look the best, too, and your picture is exactly the sort of garden I aspire to. Plus, I love the fragrance of Hansa and Rosarie de L'Hay so much but had been scared off reading this forum and hearing people warning about suckering and needing to get grafted roses (I haven't located a grafted version of either of these roses in Canada). Thank you so much for responding to me! My only concern was creating a future maintenance problem, and it looks as if my worry is overblown.

Sheila, that is such a perfect picture.