Growing Rugosa Roses in Georgia: Best in Northern Half, Once-Blooming but Disease-Free

Q: On vacation in Maine we loved beach roses. They smelled beautiful. Would they grow here?

I'll bet you saw rugosa roses. Leaves have characteristic corrugated surface. They'd be happy anywhere in northern Georgia. Rarely affected by disease and sport colorful seed pods in winter. We don't see them commonly because they only bloom once a year and tend to be large and gangly. If you have space, rugosa roses are well worth planting.