Species Rose, Primrose Rose

Discovered by Frank N. Meyer (circa 1890).

Hardy and long-lived in zone 3, Calgary, AB, Canada.

An easy, beautiful plant that should be far more commonly grown. Unlike most roses, its mature habit is graceful year-round. The tough, d...Read Moreisease-resistant foliage does not get black spot. This species tolerates poor stony soil. Exceptionally hardy, it is especially recommended in the north where few roses can survive the winter.

Named for the soft yellow of the flowers, the color of species Primula vulgaris. The earliest of roses to bloom, it even beats Rosa hugonis by a few days, which it somewhat resembles.

Both flowers and fine-textured, ferny foliage release a uniquely delicious sweet scent in humid air (or when crushed), described as myrtle-scented, though to my nose more like crushed Lindera or Sassafras leaves, and not at all like incense. Though it only blooms once a year, for about two weeks, its fragrance contributes to the garden all season long.

Suckers appear only tight in to the base, it does not spread into a wide thicket even after many years.

Hips are brown and inconspicuous.

This is not a polyantha rose. It is a shrub and not a bush. The usual common name is "incense rose", though to my nose it doesn't smell much like incense.

R. ecae is a different species, not a synonym. "Belongs to the Pimpinellifolia section (styles free, shorter than the stamens, blooms solitary, without bracts). Has doubly serrated leaflets that are glandular beneath, like R. primula and R. foetida. It differs from R. primula in having fewer leaflets, smaller blooms and in the colour of hips."

Roas primula has a pleasant and simple yellow flower. The foliage is delicate and small giving this plant a very mounded and soft appeara...Read Morence when not in bloom. It does sucker so don't plant it too closely to anything that grows smaller than it. This is a single bloom rose.