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Red Drift® Rose
Rosa 'Meigalpio' PP17877
Red Drift® Rose is what you plant when you want the “rose look” in a compact, dependable groundcover—bright red blooms, a neat mounded habit, and the kind of disease resistance that makes mass plantings realistic for real life. Line a walkway, brighten a slope, or fill the front of a sunny border and you’ll get months of color with minimal maintenance once it’s established.
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Red Drift Rose Groundcover Color That Keeps Coming
Compact red blooms that fill borders fast and stay tidy
Red Drift® Rose is the go-to choice when you want bright red rose color in a footprint that behaves. It stays compact and mounding, yet it blooms hard enough to read as a “red ribbon” through the landscape—especially when planted in groups along walkways, foundations, and sunny garden edges.
If you’re shopping for a red groundcover rose for sale that looks polished without constant fuss, this one hits the sweet spot: small stature, big flower power, and an easy-care reputation in many regions.
A true groundcover habit—built for 18 inches tall and wide coverage
Red Drift® is commonly listed around 1–2 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, forming a dense, low mound that softens hard edges and helps suppress weeds once it fills in. The canes naturally arch and drape, which is why they look so good when they spill slightly over a wall, curb, or bed line.
That compact size also makes planning simple: you can mass it in sunny beds for a carpet effect, or tuck a few into mixed borders without the “rose that ate the sidewalk” problem.
Full-sun performance with disease resistance that reduces spraying
For maximum blooms, give Red Drift® full sun and well-drained soil. It’s widely known for strong resistance to common rose diseases like black spot, powdery mildew, and rust, which is a big reason Drift® roses are popular with busy homeowners and landscapers who want color without a spray schedule.
Watering is straightforward: keep it consistently watered as it establishes, then let the soil dry slightly between deep waterings. One practical guideline is to water when the top few inches of soil are dry—healthy roots and airflow do more for roses than constant moisture.
The easy answer for slopes, edging, and “always blooming” curb appeal
Use Red Drift® where you need reliable, repeat-blooming color: front-of-border plantings, mass beds, sunny slopes, and pathway edging. It’s also a strong container candidate when you want a low, blooming “spiller” around taller thriller plants.
And because Drift® roses are often noted as pollinator-friendly, you get more than just looks—your sunny bed becomes a little more alive all season long.
| Hardiness Zone: | 4-11 |
|---|---|
| Mature Height: | 1.5 to 2 feet |
| Mature Width: | 2 to 3 feet |
| Sunlight: | Full sun (best blooms) |
| Bloom Time / Color | Long bloom season; red flowers |
| Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
| Water Requirements: | Water well until established; then moderate |
| Wildlife Value | Pollinator-friendly; may attract butterflies |
| Resistance | Noted disease resistance (black spot/mildew/rust) |
| Landscape Uses | Borders, mass beds, slopes/hillsides, edging, containers |
How to Care for Red Drift® Rose
Be sure to read our planting instructions to ensure a healthy and happy Red Drift Rose Plant for years to come!
How should I plant Red Drift Rose?
Choose a full-sun spot with well-drained soil, then dig a hole 2–3× wider than the root ball. Set the plant so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding grade, backfill, and water deeply to settle the soil around the roots. Good drainage and correct planting depth are the two biggest “set it up for success” steps. Space plants based on your end goal (tight groundcover vs. separated mounds), then mulch 2–3" to stabilize moisture while keeping mulch off the crown/canes. Spring or early fall planting gives roots time to establish before summer heat or winter extremes.
How often should I water Red Drift Rose after planting?
Water deeply right after planting, then keep moisture consistent during the first growing season—especially during hot spells and in sandy soils. A deep soak that wets the full root zone is better than frequent light watering, because it encourages deeper rooting and a tougher plant. After establishment, water the soil when it begins to dry (a simple cue is when the top few inches are dry), and avoid keeping the root zone constantly wet. Most rose stress shows up when watering swings wildly—steady, deep watering early, then moderate, as-needed watering later is the reliable path.
When should I fertilize Red Drift Rose?
Feed in early spring as new growth starts, using a balanced rose fertilizer or slow-release flowering shrub fertilizer. Fertilizing at the start of the season supports strong canes and repeat bloom cycles without pushing excessive, weak growth. For a soil-first approach, top-dress with compost and refresh mulch—healthy soil structure supports blooms, reduces stress, and can improve overall disease resilience. If you fertilize again later, keep it light and stop late-season feeding early enough that new growth can harden off.
When and how should I prune Red Drift Rose?
Prune in late winter to early spring as buds begin to swell. Drift® care guidance commonly recommends cutting plants back to about 6–8 inches to maintain a tidy size and promote fresh, floriferous growth. Remove dead or weak canes first, then shape the plant into a rounded mound. You don’t have to deadhead for rebloom, but tidying spent clusters can keep the plant looking sharper through peak season.
