ROSES HERE AT A WAY TO GARDEN are notably scarce, but there is one kind I actually have in multiple—and think that you should, too. It’s Rosa glauca, the blue-leaved rose, and that’s why I grow it—for its beautiful foliage.
I first came to know Rosa glauca as its former name of Rosa rubrifolia, meaning red-leaved, because they’re tinged with red, as are the stems. Whatever the name, it has arching canes that may get to about 6 or 8 feet tall in time, forming a roughly vase-shaped shrub, and is hardy to a brutal Zone 2 (where I never wish to test it, thank you).
The foliage color will be best if the plant is grown in light shade, emphasis on light, but don’t ask this (or any rose) to do in the dark or fungal problems will prevail. In early June here, small (perhaps inch and a half) single vivid pink flowers are produced, followed by good-sized orangey hips.
I have my older R. glauca planted with the big-root geranium, Geranium macrorrhizum, at its feet, whose hot-pink flowers coincide with those of the similarly colored rose’s, and with lots of Nectaroscordum siculum (an Allium cousin whose mauvey-blue-green blooms complete the picture) poking up out of that.
It is a strong addition to a mixed shrub border, where the glaucous foliage is an especially vivid contrast to purple-leaved things like smokebush or Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Diablo.’ Blue-leaved glasses such as Helictotrichon sempervirens (blue oat grass) would be great nearby; if the shrubbery this rose is part of casts enough shade, even blue hostas would be wonderful in the mix below. You get the idea.
I just cut back my oldest plant right near the ground, and being the tough thing it is, it immediately pushed up many strong canes (above) in the spirit of the intended rejuvenation. Look at the color of the fresh stems. Delicious.
Because R. glauca is a species (non-hybrid) rose, it will self-sow around and the babies will come true to form—looking like the parent. Not a bad thing if you happen to want more, and have the required patience.
I have to confess, some of the newish nonstop-blooming rose series are looking pretty appealing lately, even to my non-rose-lover’s eye. The ‘Drift’ series, for instance, and also the ‘Knockout’ ones keep calling to me at the garden center, though for now here it’s still just me and my Rosa glauca and a rugosa (love those hips, as does the wildlife) and one super-hardy climber.
So let me ask you this: What’s the rose you can’t live without?
In my garden, which is tiny, is the climbing angel face rose. Edged in pruple, ruffled lavender, citrus fragrant, reach 7′ last year. She’s the queen of my garden. I envy anyone who can create such lovely gardens as you have done Margaret. My hands long to get into the dirt. Winter please leave soon.
Welcome, Donna.I had to look it up: ‘Angel Face’ climber. Pretty. It wouldn’t be hardy here (it’s Zone 6B and warmer) but what a beauty. Lucky you! See you soon again, I hope.
I have in my small garden the lovely Rosa Chinensis ‘Mutabilis’ It is amazing to watch the petals change from yellow to orange to deep pink and finally crimson! It blooms all year except during the coldest months (Usually Dec. through Feb.) A friend gave me my first plant so it means so much to me. I do love your “Blue Rose”.
Welcome, Shirley. ‘Mutabilis’ is a beauty; lucky you. And it sounds extra-special because of its history, of how it came to you. Thanks for visiting; hope you won’t be a stranger.
I am with you on this one, Margaret. Rosa Glauca is incomparable. I especially enjoy the show at dusk, when those twinkling little pink blossoms appear iridescent against the foliage. They are magic. Kudos to their tenacity as well, for they are foolproof even here, in my harsh zone 4 killing fields (OK, I’m fed up with winter!)
Welcome, Christine. Isn’t it the most amazing show of color? Wow. And yes, I am fed up, too. Just tackled some more ice this week and have had enough. See you soon, perhaps in fairer days? :)
my mother was a gardener from age 5, my sis and I got the bug, and now 2 of my daughters have caught the bug. I love the winter, look foreward to the spring, but the winters here in Indiana are also glorious. I have a bird area outside my window along with my garden, I can spend hours just watching winter nature…………………………….. I now want the rosa glauca for my yard.I love the blue leaves.
I have planted my cherry tomato seeds and a few larger tomato seeds. My daughter is an herb person and has planted a lot of new things for her to experience., I hope to live long enough to try herbs also.
I saw you on Martha and want your book for my daughter Autumn, also plan to send her your blog address, I know she will enjoy it.
Welcome, Rosemary. How nice of you to spread the word to your daughter (with the beautiful name!). This is a great rose; enjoy it.
Although I’ve raised roses at every house I’ve lived in, my current home is in deer country. The two I’ve had success with, despite the four-legged critters, have been a thorny Japanese rose and a Glacier Magic rose close to the house. The last rose sits in semi-shade and blooms like crazy with a white blossom that fades to pink. I admire it from the kitchen window. Until I can fence in my property, your rosa glauca will have to stay on my wish list. I would cry if I planted it and the deer enjoyed a snack one night after it greened up in spring. :(
Wonderful shrub rose. Had it when we lived in Calgary, Alberta and it grew to an immense size. Gardening there is a challenge with chinook winds in the winter causing thawing and cold summers. Now, I will buy and plant it here in Ottawa, Ontario and hope it does well. Hot hot summers here and cold winters!!!!!
Welcome, Lori. Yes, it’s a goodie. It gets quite cold here in winter (minus temps) and very hot in summer (90s at least) and it has done well for me, so I have my fingers crossed for your success.
I love trees and evergreens, if anyone wants a wonderfully beautiful tree plant the Rain Tree. Of course living in Indiana I have the tulip tree which is also awsome, the huge yellow tulip flowers in late spring are stupendous.
Well, as someone who has never been a big fan of roses, I would normally say, “I can live without any roses at all.” But, you are really selling me on this blue beauty. I absolutely love the foliage. The pink flowers are secondary, but they do combine wonderfully with the blue leaves and purple stems.
In doing some research online, most rosa glaucas I see tend to be more red toned than yours. Also nice, but I much prefer the blue. I imagine light levels have something to do with that. Red in more sun, blue in more shade?
Maybe rosa glauca is the one rose I can’t live without. Thanks for sharing it!
Welcome, Brandon. For me it is that kind of plant — cannot imagine not having that unearthly blue foliage. The red coloration is most prominent here when the leaves are emerging (when they are more red than blue) and around the edges after that.
A friend just gave me an offspring of this. As I was giving it a drink this morning I kept thinking I read about this rose somewhere in time. Well, of course, on your beautiful blog way back when. My friend, Rosalie, is an extraordinary gardener and whenever she offers up a cutting or division or seeds, I don’t hesitate to say yes. I can’t wait to see this rose grow.
My favorite are the rugosa roses, especially Hansa. Once established, it needs little care, but, is susceptible to black spot.
Hi, Margaret.
Have been enjoying your blog these past couple of years!
I’m just getting ready to cut my beloved Rosa glauca to the ground in an attempt to “start over.” After 10+ years, It’s gotten too big and also succumbed to a nasty powdery mildew last year, which looks to have overwintered, alas. My question for you is how far down do you cut off the canes? As of now, it is too early to detect new growth / buds.
Thanks so much!
Jackie
Hi, Jackie. You could “rejuvenate it” with a hard cutback (like way down, to a foot and a half) but it will lose that tree-like stature, of course. Some rose pruningdetails with photos are here that might help. Do your pruning just as the first buds seem to come alive on the canes. The alternative with the blue-leaf rose is to just cut out the oldest stems near the base, then tweak here and there higher up to tidy a bit, and not wholesale decapitate it.
Will mull this over and set to work soon. Thanks, Margaret!
Hi again, Margaret.
I took your suggestion and cut out the old large canes with some tweaking and tidying. Now I have a much more manageable R. glauca with some of the original shape intact. And it also looks like it has overcome the dreaded powdery mildew! Very happy with the result. Thanks for your guidance, Margaret!