Rosa rugosa, commonly known as Pink Beach Rose, is a tough, salt-tolerant shrub rose valued for its wrinkled green foliage, fragrant magenta-pink blooms, and vibrant orange hips. Native to eastern Asia, this non-native species has become a common sight in coastal landscapes, particularly due to its ability to stabilize sandy soils and withstand harsh winds and salt spray. Growing 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, it blooms from early summer through fall and provides a long season of color and wildlife interest. However, due to its aggressive spread, Rosa rugosa is best used in managed garden settings.

Why choose Pink Beach Rose:

• Fragrant blooms: Recurrent magenta-pink flowers from summer into fall

• Coastal resilience: Tolerates salt, wind, poor soils, and drought once established

• Wildlife appeal: Rose hips provide food for birds and seasonal interest

Cultivating tips:

• Sun exposure: Full sun is ideal for best bloom and compact form

• Soil needs: Thrives in sandy or dry soils; avoid overly rich or wet sites

• Maintenance: Prune in early spring to rejuvenate and maintain desired size

Designs for your garden:

• Coastal plantings: Excellent for stabilizing dunes and sunny seaside spaces

• Natural screens: Dense, thorny growth makes for effective informal hedging

• Wildlife-friendly borders: Supports pollinators and provides winter food for birds

Ecological considerations:

• Non-native species: May escape cultivation and displace native shoreline vegetation

• Pollinator-friendly: Flowers attract bees and butterflies during bloom

• Rose hips: Attractive and beneficial to birds, but spread seeds if unmanaged

Looking for native alternatives?

Clethra alnifolia – Summersweet Clethra: A fragrant native shrub with midsummer white blooms that attract pollinators and thrive in moist or coastal soils.

Itea virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ – Virginia Sweetspire: A compact native shrub with arching form, white flower spikes, and brilliant red fall color.

Myrica pensylvanica – Northern Bayberry: A hardy coastal shrub with aromatic foliage and waxy berries, excellent for wildlife and erosion control.