Most people are doubtful that roses can be grown in cold climates such as the northern regions of North America. Barbara Rayment knows differently. Owner and operator of Birch Creek Nursery, just outside of Prince George in north central British Columbia, Canada, Barbara raises roses and puts them through the rigors of testing. She propagates some varieties, brings others in from half a dozen different wholesale growers in Canada and the United States, and also collects hard-to-find hardy specimens through specialty rose growers to test and perhaps use as breeding stock.
Surprisingly, despite some of the most difficult climatic extremes (Prince George is in the Canadian Zone 3) she has found well over a hundred varieties, which make the grade (Barbara’s rose list of recommended varieties is attached at the end of this article).
Barbara’s test and display acre undergoes varied and challenging conditions. Summers in the region are sometimes warm and dry, and sometimes cool and wet. Rarely does this region see very hot weather. In winter there may be 10 feet of snow cover or perhaps no snow at all. Winters can be mild with temperatures dipping -25 Celsius (the locals consider this mild!), and sometimes they experience -45 Celsius for a straight three weeks in November!
Of course, there is definitely a limit as to how far north roses can thrive, but there are a few species roses hardy to zone 1. Many cultivars (cultivated varieties) are hardy without protection in Zone 3 (-34 to 40 Celsius) and a further few are hardy to Zone 2 (-40 to 46 Celsius). There are some roses may be grown in parts of Alaska, northern British Columbia, certain northern areas of the Prairies, Ontario, Quebec and throughout the Maritime Provinces. The climate classifications apply to the rest of the world as well.
Barbara Rayment’s strategy in choosing which roses to grow in her rigorous northern climate is based on a mix of testing and optimism. She selects rose varieties simply by culling the ones that don’t do well and keeping those that thrive. Only those roses growing on their own roots have been found to be successful. Grafted roses tend to rot off at the graft if they don’t die back entirely. Even under the worst conditions, own root roses will usually re-sprout from their roots if killed right back to ground level. Because so many zone ratings are inaccurate, Barbara tests many, which she would like to be hardy, as well as those likely to be with as many pleasant surprises as losses.
Which species and cultivars of roses have managed to avoid the culling process? According to Barbara, ..my core of really hardy roses is the Explorer series, of course. She adds, the Morden/Parkland series also perform well, although (because of their parentage) they can tend to die back in very hard winters. In this case, hard winters are defined as these with virtually no snow cover. I can over winter anything under 6 feet of snow cover, Barbara says, even at 45 celsius. Under these conditions most roses do not grow as large as they would in milder climates. Having a smaller sized plant is acceptable and definitely preferable to no plant at all.
Barbara also notes that roses of the Rugosa heritage are generally as hardy as one can get; Hansa being a good example of this type of rose. The 1929 Finnish ‘Polstjarnan’ (a rampant rambler also listed as ‘Polestar’) is a northern classic. Unfortunately hybrid teas and even most of the highly popular David Austin English Roses are not reliably hardy although there are a few examples of them being grown successfully in this area.
Barbara comments; I am finding that some of the R. spinosissima hybrids and R. kordesii hybrids (the latter being the foundation of some of Ottawa’s work) do well. R. nitida and R. acicularis hybrids (both of those species are native to North America) are very hardy. Sadly not all of these hardy hybrid roses are easy to locate in the market place. Barbara also adds, the work of Frank Skinner and George Bugnet has largely been overlooked (except for the faithful old ‘Therese Bugnet,’ which is a large blowsy lavender-pink rose).
Most climbers and ramblers do not do well in northern conditions, with the exception of Polstjarnan and a few of the Explorers. Climbers can be grown on trellises and carefully laid flat for the winter, if one has the time and space to do this. Otherwise, the exposed parts of the plant, above the snowline, are usually killed back. It is also difficult to find good rich yellow roses that are tolerant of the northern climatic extremes. Most yellow roses originate from the tender, warmer climate of the mid-east and Orient. Parentage (genetics) is really the key to hardiness.
Barbara has simple, yet effective growing strategies. Her roses are grown in mixed beds around and amidst winter hardy trees, shrubs and under-plantings of as many perennials and small bulbs as she can squeeze in. This provides the plants with an environment similar to nature’s own design. Layers of plants provide shelter, leaf-litter (natural mulch), and habitat for beneficial insects. Protection from winter wind is fundamental to the roses’ survival. Fences, hedges, trees and anything else, which can be utilized as a windbreak is vital. Wind chill factors can drop the temperatures to 70 Celsius! As Barbara says, microclimate is everything and can be created through intelligent design.
Barbara plants her roses with a shovelful of compost and a handful of bone meal. They are watered in well and the soil is firmed down. Three inches of aged wood chip is added to the soil surface. This is as much care as most of her plants get. Barbara strongly urges people to do a soil test. Soils in her region are for example generally very low in boron and sulphur. When added (as micronutrients), these elements can contribute greatly to the success of rose growth and survival.
In spring after the snow has disappeared, (April or May) Barbara walks through her rose beds and prunes. She will prune off the tips that have died back over winter and also prunes minimally for shape. Any roses that have succumbed are simply torn out. As she states, if they die, there is something waiting to take their place. A thorough weeding takes place at the same time. In the latter portion of spring or early summer, she top-dresses with slow release fertilizer.16-10-10 with micro-nutrients, as required based on the soil test. Where necessary extra aged wood chip is added. Later in autumn an additional top dressing of compost is added to some beds on a rotating basis, preferably after the first hard frost.
One cannot imagine roses suffering from disease in such harsh climate, and basically that is true. Occasionally roses contained in enclosed areas with poor air circulation, will encounter blackspot, especially during cool, wet summers. Blackspot tends to be cultivar specific and it is recommended that these types of roses not be grown in areas prone to blackspot. Anything that weakens a rose in a challenging climate is best avoided
Insects are another issue. They thrive even in the northern most regions. After mild winters, large populations of aphids appear. Barbara claims that due to her style of mixed plantings, she doesn’t find them to be much of a problem. She feels that a monoculture would be more of a magnet to these bugs. Her mixed beds also provide a refuge for lady bugs and other predatory insects.
Tent caterpillars also periodically pose a problem in the north. They come in droves and strip the foliage off of everything ‘tasty’ in sight! Healthy rose bushes usually leaf out again after a caterpillar assault, and in general the caterpillars come in cycles.Spraying Bt can help, but the forest tent caterpillars travel in masses and are sometimes nearly impossible to control. Barbara, although not totally an organic grower and gardener, does not freely use pesticides. There are many beneficial creatures and organisms roaming amongst her beds and gardens and she prefers to allow the balance of nature to work.
Based on her study and testing, Barbara has compiled this list of the cultivars, which she knows to be the hardiest in her location. The most recommended for hardiness (almost invincible):
Rosa Acicularis (Arctic Rose)
Rosa Alexander E. MacKenzie
Rosa Dart’s Dash
Rosa Hansa
Rosa Polstjarnan
Rosa Prairie Joy
Rosa Rubrifolia
Rosa Rugosa
Rosa Rugosa Alba
Rosa Scabrosa
Rosa Therese Bugnet
Rosa William Baffin
Rosa Woodsii
Rosa Woodsii Kimberley
single flowers, prickly
medium red flowers,vigorous
reddish-violet blooms, repeat
magenta, repeats, hips, fragrant
white blooms, vigorous, thorny
double peach-pink, repeating
red-tinted foliage, pink blooms
Mauve-pink flowers, hips
fragrant, white blooms, hips
large single blooms, repeats
fragrant, lavender blooms
Semi-double pink, repeating
pink flower clusters, hips
improved selection
The following group consists of roses which may be nearly as hardy, but haven’t been as widely tested.
Rosa J.F. Quadra
Rosa Rotes Meer
Rosa Adelaide Hoodless
Rosa Belle Poitevine
Rosa Blanc Double de Coubert
Rosa Capt. Samuel Holland
Rosa Champlain
Rosa Charles Albanel
Rosa Cuthbert Grant
Rosa David Thompson
Rosa Dwarf Pavement
Rosa Foxi Pavement
Rosa Frau Dagmar Hastrup
Rosa Frontenac
Rosa George Vancouver
Rosa Green Ice
Rosa Grootendorst Supreme
Rosa Harison’s Yellow
Rosa Henry Hudson
Rosa Henry Kelsey
Rosa Jens Munk
Rosa John Cabot
Rosa John Davis
Rosa John Franklin
Rosa Lambert Closse
Rosa Lillian Gibson
Rosa Louis Joilett
Rosa Louis Riel
Rosa Louise Bugnet
Rosa Marie Bugnet
Rosa Marie-Victorin
Rosa Martin Frobisher
Rosa Metis
Rosa Mrs.John McNabb
Rosa Pierrette Pavement
Rosa Pink Grootendorst
Rosa Pink Pavement’
Rosa Pink Surprise
Rosa Prairie Dawn
Rosa Pristine Pavement
Rosa Reta Bugnet
Rosa Scarlet Pavement
Rosa Schneezwerg
Rosa Seager Wheeler
Rosa Showy Pavement
Rosa Simon Fraser
Rosa Sir Thomas Lipton
Rosa Snow Owl’
Rosa Snow Pavement
Rosa Stanwell Perpetual
Rosa Wasagaming
Rosa Will Alderman
Rosa Winnipeg Parks
dark velvet red blooms, repeat
very fragrant, purple-red blooms
semi-double light red flowers
soft pink flowers, repeats
very fragrant, pure white flowers
medium red, repeating
double dark red, repeating
reddish-purple blooms, repeating
very fragrant, deep red flowers
deep pinkish-red, repeats, hips
very fragrant, light pink blooms
deep purple-pink, repeating
very fragrant, light pink blooms
semi-double pink, repeats
medium red in clusters, repeats
mini-double greenish blooms
garnet red ruffled blooms, repeats
fragrant, sulphur-yellow flowers
very fragrant, double white bloom
fragrant medium red flowers
very fragrant, clear pink flowers
semi-double cherry red blooms
very fragrant, medium pink bloom
medium red ruffled flowers
tea rose fragrance, double pink
very fragrant, large rose pink
pink ‘old rose’ style flowers
single white flowers
semi-double white flowers
very fragrant, double white bloom
peach hybrid-tea type blooms
fragrant, double soft pink
medium soft pink flowers
very fragrant, double white/pink
very fragrant, pink-red
double pink ruffled
salmon-pink, repeats, hips
single blush-pink, continuous
double-pink, pillar type, repeats
very fragrant, white blooms, hips
single, large white flowers
semi-double, light red
semi-double, snow white, hips
double, small pink flowers
very fragrant, large pink blooms
semi-double rich deep pink
double, large white, repeats
semi-double white, repeats, hips
very fragrant, apple-blossom pink
quartered, blush pink, continuous
pink cabbage style blooms
fragrant, tea-rose style blooms
semi-double scarlet red
This last group consists of roses that have been found to be hardy in isolated instances throughout the north. They may or may not be as hardy. They simply haven’t been tested. Some will probably only survive in sheltered microclimates. All are beautiful if they do survive!
Rosa Agnes
Rosa Aicha
Rosa Alika
Rosa Celestial
Rosa Corylus
Rosa Crimson Glory
Rosa De Montarville
Rosa Dr.Eckener
Rosa Dr. F.L. Skinner
Rosa Foetida Bicolor
Rosa Foetida Persiana
Rosa Fruhlingsgold
Rosa Fruhlingsmorgen
Rosa Gabrielle Privat
Rosa Goldbusch
Rosa Golden Wings
Rosa Hazeldean
Rosa Hope for Humanity
Rosa P. Connell
Rosa Kakwa
Rosa Madame Hardy
Rosa Maiden’s Blush’
Rosa Maigold
Rosa Monte Cassino
Rosa Morden Amorette
Rosa Morden Blush
Rosa Morden Cardinette
Rosa Morden Centennial
Rosa Morden Fireglow
Rosa Morden Ruby
Rosa Morden Snowbeauty
Rosa Morden Sunrise
Rosa Nearly Wild
Rosa Nicolas
Rosa Prairie Fire
Rosa Rosa Mundi
Rosa Royal Edward
Rosa Rugelda
Rosa Scarlet Ranger
Rosa Suzanne
Rosa Topaz Jewel
Rosa William Booth
Rosa Winchester Cathedral
