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Gardening with roses has always been challenging in northern and midwest gardens. New varieties and hybrids are making it easier than ever to grow rose bushes without all the fuss. Be sure to check the previous pages for detailed information about growing these roses. On the following pages are descriptive lists of some of the more popular varieties, there are even some climbing roses in the very hardy Canadian rose series and a new hardy tree rose.

Try to buy “own root” roses whenever possible. If the plant dies back to the ground, the roots will reproduce a true plant. Grafted roses are grafted to hardy rootstock of an unidentified rose. So if a grafted rose dies to the ground, the plant that regrows will be unrecognizable. When buying graded roses, always buy a grade 1 or 1 1/2 plant. Grade 1 is the best and will have 3 or more 18” canes; Grade 1 1/2 has 2-15” canes, and grade 2 has 2-12” canes. If you buy a grade 2, it is a grade 2 forever, you cannot nuture it to a grade 1.

Check other pages for complete planting, care, winter protection, pruning and disease information.

Find detailed plant information:

Rugosa Roses

Canadian Explorer Roses

Canadian Parkland Roses

Knock Out Roses

Fairy Roses, Polyantha

Polyantha Roses

Simplicity Roses

Easy Elegance Roses

Hardy Sub-Zero Hybrid Tea Roses

Hardy Floribunda Roses

 

The variety of floribundas, grandifloras and tea roses is seamingly endless, but they also move further from being considered hardy. Most floribundas, and some grandifloras, will be fully hardy in zone 6, hardy with minimal protection in zone 5, and hardy with moderate protection in zone 4, perhaps even zone 3. Hybrid tea roses, and some grandifloras, need to be Minnesota tipped in zone 4 and north, zone 5 would require moderate winter protection or tipped, and zone 6 may require minimal to moderate protection. This kind of critical information is generally not provided by mail order catalogs, or by growers on the garden center tags. Your best source of specific winter care information is from knowledgeable customer service people or fellow gardeners. Just remember that if you under protect a rose bush, it may be lost. There is no loss in over protecting.

Floribundas, grandifloras and tea roses are all beautiful, are similar in size and disease resistance, and require roughly the same winter care. So figure out how much time you are willing to devote to care, decide on a color, and pick one out! For a few ideas to get you started, check the next page to see a few photos.

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