High 43 F
Low 40 F
What could be better, on this cold and rainy day, than to re-visit one of the pictures I took this past week. A sunny yellow one, at that. I saw my first Fr. Hugo rose in mid-August at a Lawn and Garden trade show. It struck me even then as it has fine fern like foliage which has pinnately compound leaves. There are up to thirteen leaflets on each stem and these have a very serrated edge giving even more texture to the appearance of this rose. This rose, Rosa hugonis is called the Golden Rose of China as it is native to China. In its' native habitat, it grows in poor, dry and often rocky soil in full sun. Seed was collected by the missionary, Fr. Hugh Scanlan, and sent to Kew Gardens in 1899. In 1908 plants were sent to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plains, MA and thus was its introduction into U. S. horticulture. As you can see from the picture, the flowers are borne on arching stems in May. 
They are between 1 1/2" and 2" across and are primrose yellow, single, saucer shaped blooms. 
This species shrub rose will grow to about 8' x 8' and is hardy to Zone 5 although there are some reports that it can survive temperatures as low as -40F. I can find only one drawback and that is that it has no fragrance. Are any of you growing this shrub rose and, if so, what do you think of it?
