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Red Drift® Rose
Rosa 'Meigalpio' PP17877
Red Drift® Rose is a compact, disease-resistant groundcover rose that delivers continuous red blooms from spring through frost with minimal maintenance. Ideal for borders, containers, and mass plantings, it adds vibrant color and elegant structure to sunny landscapes.
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The Red Drift® Rose is a stunning, compact groundcover rose known for its brilliant red blooms, continuous flowering, and low-maintenance charm. With its vibrant, true-red double flowers, this hardy rose adds a bold splash of color from late spring through the first frost, making it a standout in any sunny garden space. The small, mounding habit and glossy green foliage provide a neat and tidy appearance, perfect for enhancing garden borders, containers, and foundation plantings with long-lasting beauty and curb appeal.
Growing just 1.5 feet tall and 2.5 to 3 feet wide, the Red Drift Rose is an ideal choice for small gardens, edging pathways, or cascading over retaining walls. It thrives in full sun, prefers well-drained soil, and is incredibly disease resistant, making it perfect for gardeners of all skill levels. Its compact size and spreading growth habit make it one of the best choices for mass plantings, landscape beds, or patio containers, delivering season-long color with minimal upkeep.
Hardy in USDA Zones 4–11, Red Drift® Rose is not only beautiful but also cold-hardy, drought tolerant once established, and self-cleaning, meaning there's no need for deadheading. Whether you're looking to brighten up a small space or fill in large areas with reliable, flowering groundcover, Red Drift brings continuous color, resilience, and refined elegance to any landscape. Add this easy-care rose to your garden and enjoy its unmatched performance and vibrant, pollinator-friendly blooms all season long.
| Hardiness Zone: | 4-11 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 1.5 to 2 feet |
| Mature Width: | 2 to 3 feet |
| Classification: | Broad leaved deciduous groundcover rose |
| Sunlight: | Full sun for best blooms |
| Habit: | mounding |
| Foliage: | Dark green |
| Flower Color: | Red |
| Pruning Season: | Prune in late winter |
| Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established |
| Uses: | Extremely attractive when used as in the mixed border, mass planting, or on a hillside |
How to Care for Red Drift® Rose
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy plant for years to come!
How do I plant my Red Drift Rose Bush?
Planting your Red Drift® Rose Bush begins with choosing a location that receives full sun, ideally 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily. This compact, groundcover rose thrives in well-drained, loamy soil rich in organic matter. To plant, dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the container the rose came in. Gently loosen the roots and place the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil. Backfill with a mix of native soil and compost, then water thoroughly to eliminate air pockets and help the plant settle in. After planting, apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base of the bush to retain moisture and suppress weeds, making sure to keep mulch a few inches away from the crown to prevent rot. Space Red Drift Roses about 2 to 3 feet apart if planting in groups, allowing room for their natural spreading habit. Water regularly during the first few weeks to help establish a strong root system. With proper planting and care, your Red Drift Rose will reward you with season-long blooms, low-maintenance beauty, and excellent performance in borders, containers, or mass plantings.
How Do I Water My Red Drift Roses?
Watering your Red Drift® Rose Bush correctly is essential for establishing healthy roots and encouraging continuous blooms throughout the growing season. In the first few weeks after planting, water deeply 2–3 times per week to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Once established, this hardy groundcover rose is moderately drought tolerant, but it will perform best with regular watering during dry spells or periods of extreme heat. Always water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which helps prevent fungal diseases like black spot and powdery mildew. For ongoing care, check the soil moisture regularly—if the top 1–2 inches feel dry, it’s time to water. A 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base helps retain moisture and reduce the need for frequent watering. Red Drift Roses planted in containers may require more frequent irrigation, especially in full sun. With consistent watering and proper care, your Red Drift Rose will reward you with vibrant red blooms, glossy green foliage, and strong growth, making it an outstanding choice for sunny borders, containers, and landscape beds.
How do I Fertilize my Red Drift Rose Bushes?
Fertilizing your Red Drift® Rose Bush is key to promoting healthy growth and ensuring continuous, vibrant blooms from spring through frost. Begin feeding in early spring just as new growth appears, using a balanced slow-release fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 or a rose-specific formula. Apply the fertilizer around the base of the plant, keeping it a few inches away from the crown, and water thoroughly to help the nutrients absorb into the soil. For even better performance, you can supplement with a liquid fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the blooming season to encourage ongoing flower production. Avoid fertilizing after mid to late summer, as this can stimulate tender new growth that may be damaged by early frosts. Instead, allow the plant to begin hardening off in preparation for winter. Red Drift Roses also benefit from a light topdressing of organic compost in early spring, which improves soil structure and feeds beneficial microbes. With a consistent feeding routine, your Red Drift Rose Bush will reward you with lush foliage, continuous red blooms, and excellent resilience, making it a standout performer in groundcover plantings, borders, and containers.
How And When Should I Prune My Red Drift Rose Bush?
Red Drift® Rose Bushes benefit from regular pruning to maintain their compact form, encourage fresh growth, and promote continuous blooming throughout the season. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring, just as new growth begins and before the plant breaks dormancy. Using clean, sharp pruning shears, remove any dead, damaged, or diseased wood, and trim back about one-third of the plant’s height to shape it and encourage dense, bushy growth. This seasonal cutback stimulates strong flowering stems and helps maintain the low, spreading habit that makes Red Drift Roses ideal for groundcovers, borders, and containers. In addition to annual spring pruning, you can lightly deadhead spent blooms throughout the growing season to promote repeat flowering and keep the plant looking tidy. Although Red Drift Roses are self-cleaning, removing faded flowers can enhance appearance and extend the bloom period. Avoid heavy pruning in the fall, as it may encourage tender new growth that could be damaged by frost. With proper timing and technique, pruning helps ensure that your Red Drift Rose remains a vibrant, low-maintenance centerpiece in your landscape, providing rich red blooms and disease-resistant foliage from spring to frost.
