Whenever I give talks about cold tolerant roses, I always challenge the audience by saying I am 100% confident that I can find a rose that will survive in their growing conditions. So far, I haven’t been stumped. After all, roses have grown naturally on our planet for as long as 60 million years without a single bit of help from humans. Even more, roses can be found surviving and thriving in areas above the arctic circle in zone 2 climates that regularly see temperatures reach -50° F. The idea that all roses are delicate little flowers in need of pampering is simply a misconception.
The reason this mindset exists is really at the feet of the rose industry. In the mid-20th century, Hybrid Tea roses were the must have queens of the garden. Their form and grace embodied the de facto definition of what a rose should be. The industry was happy to oblige the demand, and breeding for characteristics other than form took a back seat. The resulting problem with many Hybrid Tea roses from the era was that the majority of those plants were closely related to their Tea rose ancestors. Tea roses originated in the tropical regions of southern China and India. While beautiful, the genetic makeup of these roses simply didn’t hold up well in the tougher climates in the United States.
The mismatch of plants and climate led gardeners to some pretty involved care regimens designed to see success in their rose gardens. I remember my grandmother meticulously cutting canes back every fall so she could surround her plants with thick styrofoam cones designed to insulate the plants through the winter. We even had a neighbor that would cover entire beds of roses with heavy canvas tarps for the winter. Even today, most people cringe a little when I admit that I don’t winter protect most of my roses at all. (For the record, I do like mulching roses in winter, and I do recommend that for all of our customers. I even do it around my younger roses for the first couple of years, but for the most part my gardening attitude is more “survival of the fittest.”)
The last 50 years have brought great change to the rose industry as breeders tailor roses to meet the needs of America’s diverse gardening climates. Breeding characteristics like disease resistance, cold hardiness, and easy of care have been paired with exquisite form and beauty. The result is some magnificently tough roses. Now when it comes to cold weather roses, not only do we see species type roses that will survive about anywhere, but we have seen a large number of own root Hybrid Tea, Floribunda and shrub roses come to market. If you live in a zone 4 or colder climate, you’ve never had as many varieties to choose from as you have right now.
Recommended Roses for Colder Areas
My best advice for choosing a cold hardy rose is to know both your area’s growing zone and your local conditions (or micro climate). Take a look at our USDA Hardiness Zone Map or search your zip code on a website like www.plantmaps.com. Once you have the zone information for your area, combine it with your knowledge of your garden. This will give you a great base to make decisions from. Generally, you may be a USDA Zone 4, but you may have a warm corner of your yard that can support a little less hardy plant. Knowing your appropriate zone is the key to selecting plants that will thrive in your growing conditions. We try to do our part by making it easy for you to narrow your search down. I suggest going to the SHOP tab on the home page, from there start by entering all of the zones colder than your location. You can then narrow your search down by the attributes you are seeking.
Some of my favorite roses are cold hardy and let’s start by looking at roses that will literally grow just about anywhere. Most of these roses are Species Roses or their very close relatives. Many are spring bloomers with simple single (5 petal blooms), they may not be showstoppers for every garden, but they are tough and reliable. My favorite in this group is the species rose Rosa glauca (aka Rosa rubrifolia or The Red Leaf rose). I don’t think I’ve ever had a garden without Rosa glauca. I love the foliage and especially the fall show of hips. Rosa acicularis and Rosa woodsii are also great choices. Rosa woodsii is native to Colorado and I love to look for it on every hike I take. It seems to grow everywhere, even at altitudes above 10,000 feet. Even famous species roses like Austrian Copper and Harison’s Yellow thrive in tougher climates. Each spring, Colorado’s famous mountain mining towns like Central City, Georgetown, and Cripple Creek are absolutely covered in a flush of yellow blooms.
Rugosa Roses are another great category when looking for cold tolerant roses. In this category, you will find a little more diversity in terms of color and bloom structure. Additionally, many rugosa will do some repeat blooming later in the season. Rugosa roses are named for their rugose (or leathery) foliage and always make for a conversation piece in the garden. Rosa rugosa rubra and Rosa rugosa alba make for can’t miss choices down to zone 2. Both are perfect for hedges and mass plantings. If you’re looking for something with a little more full bloom, Therese Bugnet is an all time favorite as well as Martin Frobisher, Blanc Double de Coubert and Hansa.
Rugosa rose genetics were at the heart of Canada’s first forays into breeding roses. Sponsored by the Canadian government, the rose breeding program sought to develop commercially viable plants that would thrive in Canada and help build their agricultural industry. Organized efforts began in the early 1900’s with the work of William Saunders and then really gained steam into the mid-century with the focused attention of Agriculture Canada. Still at work, the program is responsible for some of the world’s most important hardy roses. We list 43 different Hardy Canadian Roses and they come in every conceivable shape, size and color.
Canadian roses are a fantastic choice for any garden, not just a chilly one. Of the Canadian group, Morden Sunrise is easily my most recommended rose. It forms a tidy 3 to 4 foot shrub that is disease resistant, blooms consistently all season long, and is darn near indestructible. Additional Hardy Canadian Roses at the top of my list include the stunning red cluster blooms of Emily Carr, the cascading pink trusses of John Davis and the stately everblooming Winnipeg Parks.
Many modern Floribunda, Shrubs and Hybrid Teas are also being bred with hardiness in mind. More and more the goal seems to be giving people exactly what they want, and need. Roses can have beautiful petal packed flowers, consistent repeat blooming throughout the season, smell wonderfully and still withstand tough winter conditions. All while maintaining ease of care and disease resistance. Some of the fantastic recent releases I recommend are the deep purple blooms of Celestial Night, the coral flowers of Uptown Girl, the pink and white blended Miss Congeniality, and perennial best seller Princess Charlene de Monaco. All will survive and thrive in zone 4 conditions.
Don’t think that living in a colder area means you can’t grow magnificent Climbing and Rambling Roses. In fact some of our toughest, cold hardy roses are in Climbers and Ramblers category. Want a climber that’s tougher than tough, and hardy to Zone 2? Look no further than the majestic arching canes of Polestar. Recent releases, Cherry Frost, Cosmic Clouds, and Winner’s Circle all follow suit with zone 4 hardiness and add color and repeat blooming to the mix. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention a few of our classic climbers like Victorian Memory, Dortmund and Snowball as well. Climbing roses do remarkably well in colder areas, don’t be afraid to give them a try.
The most important thing to remember is that there is a rose for every situation, including yours! Taking a little time to understand your conditions and seeking roses that will thrive in it is the key to success. Hopefully this guide will steer you in the right direction. If you need further help, we’re always here to talk roses! Contact Us