JAPANESE RED ROSE BUSH FLOWER SEEDS (Rosa rugosa "Rubra") Garden Hardy Flower Plant Red Rugosa Rose is a Very Special Rose not Only Produces an Abundance of Large, Very Fragrant Red 2-3 Inch Flowers from Summer through Fall. Cold Hardy to Zone 3 it is Loaded with Large Edible Tasty Red Hips. The Foliage is a Deep Green and Disease Resistant Making these Bushes, Month after Month, a Collage of Red, Pink, Green. Can be Grown as a Container Plant, or Can Grow as a Thick Spreading 6 Foot Tall Hedge. Rugosas are known as rugged roses because they can be virtually maintenance-free. They handle less-than-ideal growing conditions, including light shade, salt air, frigid temperatures, drought, and high humidity. As with most roses, rugosas prefer a spot in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. Too much shade will generally result in fewer blooms. Rugosa roses like rich, loamy soil with sharp drainage and a slightly acidic soil pH. However, the shrubs are typically quite forgiving and can tolerate somewhat poor soil, including gravelly, sandy, and clay soils. Established shrubs can tolerate some drought, though they still prefer moist soil. Avoid overhead watering, as this can promote fungal growth on the leaves. Likewise, try to water in the morning, so any wet foliage has time to dry in the sunlight. Adding a layer of mulch is also ideal to help retain soil moisture. These plants are very hardy and can survive a wide range of temperatures, including those well below freezing. Unless your soil is very poor, your rugosa roses shouldn't need a lot of supplemental feeding. A slow-release flowering shrub fertilizer applied in the spring should suffice. Zones 3-10 Red Rugosa Rose Germination: 1) Soak seeds in 1 cup of water, with 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide for 24hrs. 2) To cold stratify, place seeds inside of a zip lock bag filled with moist peat moss or vermiculite. (Not wet, just constantly moist). Leave the bag open an inch to allow for slight air circulation. Periodically mist them to ensure they don't dry out. Leave in the fridge for 60 days. 3) Plant seeds no more than 1/8 of an inch deep into a sterile seed starting mix. 4) Use a heated propagator mat to keep the temperature at 75 degrees F. during the day. Turn it off at night to allow temps to drop to 68 degrees or cooler. This creates alternating temperatures which mimic their natural conditions in the wild which greatly improves germination. 5) Keep slightly moist, and expect germination within 2-3 weeks.