RR is a very tough plant with a will to survive. I grew some in part shade (leaning towards full shade), and they grew very stunted and without flowers. After two years of this, I transplanted them to part sun. There the RR took off with tremendous growth and flowering.

I never grew mine in full shade, but my experience would suggest that growth would be stunted at best. Understanding a plants shade tolerance and definitions of shade are critical to proper plant siting.

performance is not great in shade. my plants are leggy and not heavy bloomers. but search for rugosas that will be happy in shade-- there are some. but this year i planned on moving mine into a sunnier spot.
perfume d'la hay does best in the shade for me-- but its going to a partially sunny spot--under a tree but with a southern exposure. my sisterinlaw had hansa and frau dagmar
up against the west side of her house under a tree-- but the still got full sun after 3PM during the summer and
mostly sun in april, may, september and october
diggerb

I was just given Therese Bugnet and read that it is shade tolerant. Doesn anybody have any idea how many hours of sun a rugosa needs to flower? I can't decide where to plant Therese.

I have a mystery rugosa growing in almost full shade. It flowers briefly in June, but not heavily. No repeat bloom. The canes grow to about 5 feet long each year and arch towards the sun.