• Photo of Rosa 'MELdrifora' (Rosa 'MELdrifora's)

Plant Profile: Rosa 'MELdrifora'

Names

Coral Drift Rose, Groundcover Rose

  • Photo of Rosa 'MELdrifora' (Rosa 'MELdrifora's)

Phonetic Spelling:RO-zuh

Genus:Rosa

Species:

Family:Rosaceae

Coral Drift® Groundcover Rose, scientifically known as MELdrifora, is a compact shrub that features an abundance of small, solitary blooms in a vibrant coral hue. Its growth habit is wider than it is tall, making it an ideal option for edging alongside taller shrubs in garden beds.

Each flower, shaped like a cup and measuring 1.5 inches across, is adorned with up to 25 delicate petals, revealing its charming stamens at the center. The dark green leaves complement the blossoms beautifully, creating an attractive display in any garden setting.

This variety is known for its extended blooming period, producing flowers from spring through to frost. It is also low-maintenance, requiring minimal care. To enhance its performance for the current growing season, a light pruning in early spring, after the last frost, is recommended. Optimal growth occurs in sunny spots with rich, well-drained soil. Applying a slow-release fertilizer in spring, followed by a second application in late summer, will promote more abundant blooms in the fall.

With its strong resistance to diseases, this rose is a fantastic choice for those seeking a low-maintenance, hassle-free garden. Additionally, mulching around the plant helps retain moisture and suppress weeds.

However, be aware that deer may pose a threat to this plant.

For further details on Rosa, please refer to additional resources.

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Feature Summary

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#small spaces
#rose
#shrub
#deciduous shrub
#cottage garden
#disease resistant
#deer browsing plant
#long bloom time
#groundcover
#rose bush
#borders
#cold tolerant
#winter hardy
#border middle
#walkway planting
#compact habit
#patio planting
#butterfly friendly
#continuous bloom

Similar Plants

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Feature Summary

Attributes
Attractive to butterflies.
Attracts Pollinators
Colorful
Buffer
Attractive Flowers
Easy to Grow
Defines Paths
Flowers
Semi-double, 1.5" coral flowers bloom from spring until the first frost. During mid-season a very mild scent can be detected.
Good Cut
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Spring
Summer
Fall
more than 20 petals/rays
1-3 inches
Leaves
The glossy dark green leaves provide a beautiful background for the blooms. New growth may have a slight reddish tint.
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Ground Cover
Rose
Arching
Mounding
Spreading
Low
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Accent
Screen/Privacy
Specimen
Insect Pests
Diseases
Container
Patio
Walkways
Small Space
Pool/Hardscape
Butterflies

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Attributes

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Country Or Region Of Origin

United States

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Wildlife Value

Attractive to butterflies.

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Flowers

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Description

Semi-double, 1.5" coral flowers bloom from spring until the first frost. During mid-season a very mild scent can be detected.

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Orange

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Leaves

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Leaf Description

The glossy dark green leaves provide a beautiful background for the blooms. New growth may have a slight reddish tint.

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Whole Plant Traits

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Cultural Conditions

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Rosa 'MELdrifora': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Rosa 'MELdrifora': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Stem

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Rosa 'MELdrifora' Landscape

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Rosa 'MELdrifora': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees