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Drift Rose

Rosa

The Flowering Carpet: Drift® Roses


The Snapshot

  • Common Name: Drift Rose

  • Scientific Name: Rosa 'Meigalper' (and hybrids)

  • Hardiness: Zones 4 – 11 (Tough enough for a Sussex County winter).

  • The "Vibe": Soft, cascading, and relentless; the "color-wash" of the garden.

Why They Are a Jersey Landscape "MVP"

  • The Low Profile: While Knock Outs can get a bit "leggy" or tall, Drift Roses stay naturally low (usually under 1.5 to 2 feet). They spread wide, creating a lush carpet of flowers.

  • Non-Stop Performance: They are "continual bloomers." In NJ, they typically start their show in late May and—if the weather holds—can still be found blooming in November.

  • Winter Toughness: Unlike many groundcover plants that disappear in winter, Drift Roses are woody shrubs. They maintain their structure and are exceptionally cold-hardy, handling NJ’s "Polar Vortex" snaps with ease.

  • Disease Resistance: They inherited the iron-clad health of the shrub rose. You won't be dealing with the "black spot" yellow leaves that usually ruin the look of NJ roses in humid July.

Stories from the Garden

"I have a stone retaining wall in front of my house in Rumson. I wanted something that would 'drape' over the edge. I planted Coral Drift roses, and they are perfect. They look like a waterfall of flowers spilling over the stone. I love that they don't grow 'up' and block my windows. They just stay in these neat, colorful mounds. I basically ignore them and they just keep blooming."

— Linda J., Zone 7 Gardener (Rumson, NJ)


Designer Tips: Where to Plant

  • The "Retaining Wall" Spiller: Plant them 2 feet apart at the top of a stone wall. Their natural arching habit will eventually drape over the edge, softening the hard stone.

  • The "Front Row" Border: Use them to "skirt" the bottom of taller, leggy shrubs like Butterfly Bush or Lilacs. They hide the "naked stems" of the taller plants.

  • The "No-Mow" Slope: On a sunny hillside where grass is a nightmare to cut, mass-plant Drift Roses. Within two years, you’ll have a self-sustaining floral blanket.

Designer Pro-Tip: The "Spring Shave." Just like the Knock Outs, Drift Roses love a hard prune in late March. Cut them back to about 6–8 inches tall. This forces the plant to grow back thick and prevents it from becoming "see-through" in the center.

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