This is a familiar rose in old-fashioned gardens, where it was commonly grown in borders as a foliage plant. Rosa rubrifolia also known as Rosa glauca from Central Europe was introduced in 1831.

Its fragrant, single blossoms have a star shaped form, and are a dark pink on the outside with a pale pink centre and yellow stamens. They appear in large numbers in mid-summer but it is the remarkable foliage that attracts gardeners.
The stems are red and almost thornless. The leaves are violet when young, turning blue-grey as they mature and then fading to subtle autumn reds, even the stems are mauve-purple. In autumn they provide an attractive background to the fine bunches of dark red hips, that stay on the plant all winter.

One of the hardiest disease free roses one can find, disease resistant, completely winter hardy, very easy to grow: the uses for this rose in the landscape are unlimited. A truly beautiful rose

Rosa hugonis has earned both the Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1917 and the Award of Garden Merit in 1925.

Sowing: Late winter/late spring and late summer/autumn.
Pour warm water over seeds, let them soak for 24 hours until swelling is noticeable.
Seeds can be left to go through the seasons naturally or germination hastened by “Stratifying” (imitating the seasons)

The “Natural” method:
Sow 6mm deep in pots or trays of John Innes seed compost, cover the surface with fine grit and stand in water until compost is completely moistened. Label the containers. Place the containers outside in a cold frame or plunge them up to the rims in a shady part of the garden border.
Some of the seeds may germinate during the spring and summer and these should be transplanted when large enough to handle.

“Hastening Germination” by stratification:
Soak the seeds as above. Take a piece of moistened kitchen towel and fold it into four, place the seeds inside and place the whole lot into a small ziplock bag. Place this inside the fridge. Fridge’s are usually set at 4°C (39°F), this is a perfect temperature to simulate “winter” Check the bag occasionally; plant out any seeds that may have germinated. Leave for 12 week, then to simulate “spring” simply bring the bag out of the fridge, place in an area that is around 10°C (50°F)

Rose seeds sometimes need to go through two winters – so don’t throw away the tray too soon, simply place it in a shady part of the garden, check it occasionally - I have had many “surprise successes” this way, with seed that I have given up on!

Cultivation:
When seedlings have their first pair of true leaves and are large enough to handle, transplant into 7.5cm (3in) pots. Pot on seedlings as required and grow on indoors before planting outside permanently.

Pruning:
Late autumn to early spring
Maintenance: In the first two years, cut out only dead, diseased or damaged wood.
Renewal: Cut back one or two of the oldest stems to 30-45cm (12-18in) above ground and repeat every one to three years. This rose blooms on old wood so take care when pruning.

Plant Uses:
Suitable for planting in a woodland. Tolerant of shade and of poor soils.

Other Uses:
Roses and Lavender, with a little mint and some lemon juice to activate the alkaloids can make both a brilliant pink dye and a very tasty pink lemonade!