Not sure how old it is now...4, 5 maybe?
Anyway its a big ol' bush now...probably 6' x 6'.
Its almost always covered in blossoms.
This is a horrid pic, over exposed from the blazing morning sun
but gives you an idea.
What you can't see it it has tons of buds on it.
Not very fragrant though.

Up close

OMG, that is GORGEOUS!! I thought all Rugosas were single petaled? Wow.. I love it!!!!!!

How do you prune your Rugosas Cottage Rose ? Mine are all sticks and thorns with clusters of blooms way on top.

Alot of Rugosa's are semi double.
SK, I'm surprised you thought they were all single petaled.

PP, I don't prune them much.
Just prune dead wood in the spring and
every few years I cut out some of the old wood.
I'm having problems with some of my Alba's doing as you described.
I would try cutting them way back.


Here's an Austin Rugosa 'Wild Edric'

Another Austin Rugosa 'Doreen Pike'

Rugosa 'Blanc Double de Coubert'

There are many others you could find on HelpMeFindRoses.com

PP, most of my Rugosa are fountain shaped.
Polareis is exceptionally round and bushy.
Another one that is really nice and bushy is Belle Poitevine

I have been pruning conservatively or not at all so I guess it is time to try something else.

Doreen Pike has loverly flowers. Have you grown Therese Bugnet or Frau Dagmar Hastrup? I've seen the former in a county park and thought it made a wonderful shrub.

I also wondered if you knew anything about rose hips and jelly. I've heard Hansa is exceptionally good for making jelly, but I don't know whether it looks great as a shrub.

I was very fond of Blanc Double de Coubert for the several years it grew in my garden - especially the rich spice of the flowers, but one year it collapsed in late July, presumably dead of drought.

Steve812 said:Doreen Pike has loverly flowers. Have you grown Therese Bugnet or Frau Dagmar Hastrup? I've seen the former in a county park and thought it made a wonderful shrub.

I also wondered if you knew anything about rose hips and jelly. I've heard Hansa is exceptionally good for making jelly, but I don't know whether it looks great as a shrub.

I was very fond of Blanc Double de Coubert for the several years it grew in my garden - especially the rich spice of the flowers, but one year it collapsed in late July, presumably dead of drought.

Steve, I do have Doreen Pike but its more like a ground cover rose. I didn't know that upon planting it and I might have to move it. I also grow: Wild Edric, Rosa Rugosa (pink), Purple Pavement (AKA Rotes Meers), Foxi Pavement (AKA Buffalo Gal)
Conrad F. Meyer (to be shovel pruned for exceptionally poor performance and hardiness) Blanc Double de Coubert, Fimbriata, Delicata, Lauren, Belle Poitevine, Jens Munk, Henry Hudson, and Rosarie de L' Hay. I use to grow Hansa and its a wonderful rose but it croaked one winter at around age 10.
I also had Therese Bugnet but she croaked too .

Yes an elderly lady friend of mine use to make rose hip jelly.
I think the biggest hips I've seen were on Rosa Rugosa.

I've seen rosa rugosa growing wild by the side of the road in Maine and it looks magnificent with its large red hips. And I've lost Conrad F. Meyer a few times. It seems to be a rose for some very different climate from any I've lived in. I grew Jens Munk in deep shade in NJ. It never bloomed, but it made a pretty shrub there. Probably should have grown rhododendrons there instead...

I've been tempted recently by Belle Poitevine and Roseraie de l'Hay. I need to find more room in the wild garden somehow.