While walking home from minding my plot at the community garden a couple of days ago, I came across this redleaf rose (Rosa rubrifolia, syn. R. glauca) growing in a nearby schoolyard. It reminded me of when we used to bring roses into the garden centre – we’d always order a few redleaf roses alongside all of the showier Mordens and Explorers and rugosas, but the customers were never thrilled about the “wild”-looking redleaf rose flowers. I tried to sell everyone on the foliage instead, but few people bit. I love them BECAUSE they look a little like our wild roses (Rosa acicularis and R. woodsii – see photos here). If I owned a house and had the room to actually plant full size (read: large and slightly rambling) roses, a redleaf or two would definitely have a place.
What do you think of redleaf roses? Are you a fan, or are they not really your cup of tea?
Have a super-enjoyable weekend! What are your plans – gardening or otherwise? I’ve already done a pile of weeding this morning, but there’s still a frightening amount yet to tackle, and more rain in the forecast….
Flowery Prose 
Yes, I love Rosa glauca too, especially for her blue foliage and the lovely single pink small flowers. I also have this rose in my garden together with the Old French roses, Austin roses and other botanical roses.
I’m happy to hear that you’re growing R. glauca! I hardly ever see them here, and it’s always a joy when I do.
They are very pretty – not sure if I’ve seen them here. I like the wild roses, they smell so lovely. Looks like I’ll have to water my garden this weekend. I normally don’t water at all, but we’ve had two weeks with fairly strong winds and no rain. Wish I could swap with you for a week…. isn’t that crazy?!
It cleared up again this afternoon and we had sunshine, yay! Now, if only it will last…. 🙂 We’re starting to get all the humidity-related pests and diseases…shudder. I was in communication with a lady this evening who has slime moulds growing in her flowerbeds, ewww. I think if you and I swapped, I would be getting the better end of the deal with your heat and wind! 🙂 You have such a large property – how do you manage to water it all? It must be a lot of work!
I only water pots and very occasionally a particularly dry spot in the rockery. Everything else has to fend for itself!
I don’t know about this rose, but in general I like the native wild roses. I have a Prairie Rose and I’m very fond of it.
I can see why – Prairie roses are gorgeous! Another one I would grow if I could.
I love the ‘wilder’ side of roses. Especially if they have fragrance. I am guessing that this rose would actually make a very nice cup of tea 🙂
Oh yes, I would think so! 🙂
I have never seen these roses…I like them. I am hoping to take a machete into my rain forest in the tropics here and chop out some weeds…every weekend I am beaten back and they take more control.
Has it finally stopped raining there? You must be getting a bit discouraged with the weather! I know I feel like a little heat and sun for a week or so would be more than welcome – this humidity is very unusual here. Good luck with your weeding! Have a fantastic weekend! 🙂
I definitely like the wild roses. The foliage is beautiful too. Annie
They have a simple beauty and smell heavenly! 🙂
I love red leaf rose and had two in my former garden. Unfortunately there isn’t room for one in my new garden – they get huge, in fact my neighbour asked me what kind of tree it was! I think Rosa glauca should be marketed as a shrub with gorgeous foliage rather than a rose.
It’s true – the one I photographed was about 6 1/2 feet tall and at least 4 feet wide and I’m not certain how old it is. That may be another reason why people are reluctant to try them out…you definitely need space!
I love Ros glauca for its beautiful foliage and for. The hips that follow after the flowers. The foliage is always very healthy too, and more pink than red.
The foliage definitely makes this rose stand out. I will have to watch for the hips later in the year, I’m curious to see how large they get.