Introduced to American gardens 'way back in 1892, 'Blanc Double de Coubert' (pronounced, roughly, "blonk DOO-bluh duh koo-BARE") is a hybrid Rugosa rose that grows 5 to 7 feet tall by about 4 to 6 feet wide. A cross between a wild Rugosa and the antique rose 'Sombreuil,' this super-hardy beauty bears wrinkled ("rugose"), leathery, shiny green foliage and — off and on all summer — gardenia-white, semidouble flowers, centrally bossed in gold, gifted with a rich sweet perfume. They are followed by the fat red hips (tart-tasty, particularly after first frost, and vitamin-rich for jams and tea) that have earned Rugosas their old common name of "Sea Tomato".

Tolerant of most soils and hardy from Zone 3 through 11, 'Blanc Double de Coubert' makes an ideal hedge even in partial shade.