F. J. Grootendorst Hybrid Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa ‘F. J. Grootendorst’)

The F. J. Grootendorst is a hybrid Rugosa Rose bush (Rosa rugosa ‘F. J. Grootendorst’) that displays big, flouncy clusters of blooms with frilled edges and a delightfully spicy fragrance! These fluffy flowers resemble fringed carnations and appear in large clusters in the most enchanting deep pink blooms that are almost crimson lipstick red when they first open! Once fully open, the petals fade to dark pink and reveal golden centers that are a beacon for pollinators, inviting them in for a sip of nectar and to roll around in the golden pollen!

F. J. Grootendorst has crinkly, bright green foliage that completely fills out this slightly wider-than-tall, bushy, vigorous and upright-growing shrub. In fact, the name Rugosa is a Latin word meaning full of crinkles! It will stay low growing and act like a groundcover Rose if pruned back each spring. Plus, those abundant flowers bloom from June until frost throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 8!

Retaining their Rugosa and Heirloom family advantages, F. J. Grootendorst is as easy to grow, vigorous, and resistant to salt, insects, and disease as the rest of the family! Plus you and your songbirds will enjoy the colorful fat Rosehips that form in the autumn and can persist into the cold months for winter interest! The thorny canes may be a drawback, but more so for deer that try to make your flowering shrub into lunch!

Planting and Application:

F. J. Grootendorst is very thorny like most Rugosas and its dense branching means ideal bird roosting and nesting hot spots while also providing you with a thorned defensive planting that few have the chutzpah to tangle with! Grab a good pair of leather gloves when handling these canes! Luckily, you only need to work with them once a year for pruning, unless you are snipping a few for your bouquets. Even the rosehips look great in outdoor holiday decorations and indoor floral arrangements – both dried and fresh! Plus you can dry the hips for tea, potpourri, and dried décor, or make them into preserves rich in Vitamin C.

Any garden with one of these bloomers is a boon to nectar-hungry honeybees and butterflies that will seek them out all growing season! A single shrub makes a great specimen and focal point for filling garden beds and Rock Gardens with ruffled bright pops of color and textured green foliage! Smaller pruned shrubs can even be kept in large outdoor planters with ease!

Don’t worry about salt spray from the road, Rugosa Roses are salt tolerant! Plant them without worry along roadside hell strips, the sidewalk, and the driveway! Just give them a bit of room to avoid snagging clothing. Coastal gardeners can also enjoy these free-flowering plants in their seaside gardens!

• Big Clusters of Ruffled Carnation-Like Pinkish Red Blooms
• Very Spicy Fragrant Flowers
• Highly Textured Ornamental Foliage
• Colorful, Bird-Friendly Fall Rose Hips
• Wildlife & Pollinator-Friendly & Lovely Cut Flowers (Just Wear Gloves!)
• Hedges, Specimens, Defensible Plantings, Containers & Groundcover

Tips for Care:

Rugosa Roses are very tolerant of harsh conditions! They can tolerate wind, poor soil, and salt spray. F. J. Grootendorst grows best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Great air circulation, regular fertility, and a 3-4 inch thick layer of mulch are all helpful to keep this shrub reblooming and carefree! Remove fallen leaves to help prevent disease and Rugosas respond well to pruning so it can be kept smaller if desired.

• Full Sun
• Adaptable to Most Well-Drained Soil Types
• Moderate to Low Moisture Needs Once Established
• Deer Seldom Bother It & Salt Tolerant
• Prune Early Spring

For a wonderfully fragrant and cold-hardy Rosebush that will delight you and your songbirds!