Hardy Roses For Northern Climates

When it comes to cold tolerant, hardy roses, ask a friend. You will find many at this rose web sites.

Alaska Rose Society

 

These are the Societies in the Michigan District with the 2004 President information listed. 

Selecting Hardy Roses for Northern Climates is a listing of roses that survive the winter in northern climates. These roses tend to be vigorous, are relatively disease tolerant, and require little long-term maintenance. Many people broadly refer to these roses as a shrub roses.

This publication includes three rose lists** with information on appropriate names, class, flower color, blooming frequency, size, form, and hardiness zone. This information can be used to guide purchasing.

The first list describes roses that are low maintenance due to their hardiness and disease resistance. The second list identifies roses that may not be entirely hardy, may need some protection (such as a warmer microclimate), and are susceptible to disease and need applications of fungicides. The third list identifies wild roses that can adapt to low-maintenance landscapes. Information is given on where to purchase and view shrub roses, and the bibliography lists books with more information on shrub roses.

The rose lists on the following pages describe cultivars that are commonly available to gardeners. The terminology used in the lists is defined below.

• Cultivar: The named variety as defined by Roses 10 published by the American Rose Society.
• Class: As defined by Roses 10.
• Flower Color/Type: S = single; SD = semidouble; D = double.
• Repeat Bloom: One-time bloomers can be quite showy for an extended period of time. Repeat bloom is frequently light.
• Size: Size is approximate and depends on environmental and cultural conditions.
• Habit: The general shape of the rose plant.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: Hardiness is a complex issue involving not only the hardiness zone, but also such environmental factors as actual weather conditions, planting site, cultural factors, and management. A cultivar that routinely dies back to the snowline or crown but recovers nicely is designated by an asterisk (*).

 

Not Recommended for Low-Maintenance Landscapes

Cultivar	Class	Flower Color/Type	Repeat Bloom	Size (feet)	Habit	Hardiness Zones	Comments
Adelaide Hoodless	S. Rose	medium red/SD	yes	5.5 x 6.5	Spreading	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease**
Alba Meidiland	S. Rose	white/D	yes	3 x 4	spreading	5	hardiness varies depending on site (may die outcompletely), grown on own roots, Meidiland roses from France
Pink Meidiland	S. Rose	pink blend/S	yes	4 x 3	bushy	5	same
Red Meidiland	S. Rose	red blend/S	yes	3 x 4	spreading	5	same
Scarlet Meidiland	S. Rose	medium	yes	3 x 5	spreading	5	same
Constance Spry	S. Rose	light pink/D	no	5 x 5	bushy	4-5 *	very few blooms in Minnesota because flowers are produced only on old wood, which dies back; a David Austin rose
Dortmund	Kordesii	medium red/S	yes	4 x 11	long canes	5	dies back to the crown without protection, very healthy, glossy foliage
Eutin	Floribunda	dark red/D	yes	3 x 3.5	open	4 *	susceptible to black spot fungal disease; good continuous bloom
Cultivar	Class	Flower Color/Type	Repeat Bloom	Size (feet)	Habit	Hardiness Zones	Comments
Grootendorst Supreme	H. Rugosa	dark red/D	yes	4 x 5.5	bushy	3-4	no fragrance
F.J. Grootendorst	H. Rugosa	medium red/D	yes	4 x 5.5	bushy	4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease
FrŸhlingsgold	H. Spinosissima	light yellow/SD	no	8 x 11	arching	5	susceptible to black spot fungal disease
Golden Wings	S. Rose	light yellow/S	yes	5 x 4.5	dense	4 *	susceptible to black spot fungal disease
Hansa	H. Rugosa	red violet/D	yes	4 x 5.5	bushy	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease, red hips
Henry Kelsey	Kordesii	medium red/D	yes	4.5 x 10	long canes	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease, may be used as a climber**
John Franklin	S. Rose	medium red/D	yes	3 x 4	upright	4	flower petals are malformed; slightly susceptible to black spot fungal disease, leaf spots, and rust**
Martin Frobisher	H. Rugosa	light pink/D	yes	5 x 6	upright	2-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease**
Morden Amorette	S. Rose	deep pink/D	yes	4 x 5	spreading	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease**
Morden Cardinette	S. Rose	medium red/D	yes	2.5 x 1	open	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease**
Morden Fireglow	S. Rose	orange red/D	yes	3 x 3	low bushy	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease**
Cultivar	Class	Flower Color/Type	Repeat Bloom	Size (feet)	Habit	Hardiness Zones	Comments
Morden Ruby	S. Rose	pink blend/D	yes	3.5 x 5	spreading	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease**
Othello	S. Rose	crimson/D	yes	6 x 5	upright	5	many other David Austin cultivars are available, almost all are borderline hardy in Zone 4; very fragrant
Graham Thomas	S. Rose	dark yellow/D	yes	8 x 5	upright	5	same
Winchester Cathedral	S. Rose	white/D	yes	5 x 5	bushy	5	same
Heritage	S. Rose	light pink/D	yes	4 x 4	bushy	5	same
Abraham Darby	S. Rose	apricot yellow/D	yes	4 x 3	upright	5	same
Mary Rose	S. Rose	pink/D	yes	4 x 4	bushy	5	same
Pink Grootendorst	H. Rugosa	medium pink/D	yes	3 x 4.5	dense	3-4	no fragrance
Prairie Dawn	S. Rose	medium pink/D	yes	8 x 10	upright	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease
Reine des Violettes	H. Perpetual	violet red/D	minimal	3 x 3	open	4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease, very fragrant
Rosa Mundi, Gallica versicolor	Gallica	striped white, pink, red/SD	no	3.5 x 4	bushy upright	4	susceptible to powdery mildew, will sucker
Cultivar	Class	Flower Color\Type	Repeat Bloom	Size (feet)	Habit	Hardiness Zones	Comments
Simplicity	Floribunda	medium pink/SD	yes	4.5 x 3.5	upright	5	although grown on own roots, not root hardy in Minnesota (Jackson and Perkins series)
Red Simplicity	Floribunda	red/SD	yes	4.5 x 3.5	upright	5	same
White Simplicity	Floribunda	white/SD	yes	4.5 x 3.5	upright	5	same
ThŽr�se Bugnet	H. Rugosa	medium pink/D	yes	5 x 5.5	open	2-4	susceptible to powdery mildew, rust, and general leaf spots; will sucker; very hardy
R. canina	Species	light pink/S	no	4.5 x 6.5	arching	4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease, scarlet hips
R. foetida bicolor, Austrian Copper	Species	orange w/ yellow reverse/S	no	5 x 4.5	upright	3-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease
R. foetida persiana, Persian Yellow	Species	medium yellow/D	no	6 x 4	upright	4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease
R. multiflora	Species	white/S	no	4.5 x 12	arching	4 *	very few blooms because flowers are produced only on old wood, which dies back; 3/4" flowers in clusters; small red hips
Cultivar	Class	Flower Color\Type	Repeat Bloom	Size (feet)	Habit	Hardiness Zones	Comments
R. woodsii	Species	medium pink/S	no	5.5 x 6	spreading	4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease, slightly susceptible to powdery mildew and general leaf spots, native to Minnesota

Class: S = Shrub H = Hybrid	Size: Height x Width
Type: S = Single SD = Semidouble D = Double
* Plant routinely dies back	** Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

 

Native Roses for Low-Maintenance Landscapes

Cultivar	Class	Flower Color/Type	Repeat Bloom	Size (feet)	Habit	Hardiness Zones	Comments
R. acicularis Prickly Rose	Species	deep pink/S	no	6 x 5	spreading	2-4	rare in the trade
R. arkansana Prairie Wild Rose	Species	medium pink/S	minimal	2.5 x 3.5	spreading	2-4	rare in the trade, small bright red hips
R. blanda Meadow Rose, Smooth Wild Rose	Species	medium pink/S	no	6 x 7	arching	2-4	small red hips
R. carolina Pasture Rose Carolina Rose	Species	medium pink/S	no	3 x 3	dense	4	red hips, will sucker
R. setigera Climbing Rose Prairie Rose	Species	pink/S	no	5.5 x 13	arching	4	small brownish-green hips
R. woodsii Woodâs Rose	Species	medium pink/S	no	5.5 x 6	spreading	2-4	susceptible to black spot fungal disease, slightly susceptible to powdery mildew and general leaf spots, red hips

Class: S = Shrub H = Hybrid	Size: Height x Width
Type: S = Single SD = Semidouble D = Double
* Plant routinely dies back	** Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

* Formerly University of Minnesota Horticulture or Entomolgy staff.
** Information provided by Kathy Zuzek (University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center) and Sam Brungardt (University of Minnesota Extension Educator).

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