Groundcover
Coral Drift Groundcover Rose
Rosa 'Meidrifora' (CORAL DRIFT) · Rosaceae
Also called: Coral Drift, Drift Rose
Coral Drift Groundcover Rose (Rosa 'Meidrifora' (CORAL DRIFT)) is a low-water groundcover well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun, with a moderate growth rate. Expect bright coral-orange blooms Long bloom mid-spring through fall.
Coral Drift Groundcover Rose at a glance
- Water use
- Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs) for best bloom; tolerates light afternoon shade in Tucson summer. Best flowering with morning sun.
- Mature size
- 10-18 in tall x 2-3 ft (up to 4 ft) wide, low mounding/spreading
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Bloom
- Bright coral-orange, Long bloom mid-spring through fall (roughly March-November in Tucson), with summer slowdown in extreme heat
- Cold hardiness
- USDA 4-11; fully hardy in Tucson 9a-9b
- Soil
- Well-drained soil; tolerant but amend Tucson caliche/alkaline soil with organic matter for best performance
- Native range
- Cultivar from Meilland (Drift series), France; genus Rosa native to the Northern Hemisphere
- Best used as
- Groundcover, Front of border/edging, Mass planting, Containers, Low-water color
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract bees and pollinators
- Toxicity
- Non-toxic to pets and people; small thorns
How to grow Coral Drift Groundcover Rose in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Deep-water to 18-24 in: about weekly in winter, ~2 times weekly spring/fall, and 2-3 times weekly in summer heat. Compact size makes it relatively water-thrifty once established; avoid soggy soil.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light to moderate feeder: slow-release rose fertilizer every 6-8 weeks spring through early summer; pause in peak heat and resume in fall. Iron chelate if foliage yellows in alkaline soil.
Pruning & care
Very low-maintenance and self-cleaning. Cut back hard (to ~6-8 in) in late winter (Feb) to renew; light shaping only during the season. No need to deadhead.
Notes
Part of the Drift series (groundcover x miniature cross), bred for compact habit and strong disease resistance to black spot, powdery mildew, and rust. Low, self-cleaning, and water-thrifty: excellent low-desert groundcover and mass-color rose. Note registration code is also written 'MEIdrifora'.
Sources: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rosa-coral-drift-meldrifora/; https://txmg.org/hendersonmg/files/2020/06/ROSE-CORAL-DRIFT%C2%AE-GROUNDCOVER.pdf; https://extension.arizona.edu/publication/rose-care-low-desert