Cold-Tolerant Roses for Northern Climates

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Robert J. Dolezal

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‘Morden’ Blush is a low-growing, ever-blooming shrub rose that’s a member of the Parkland series.

Roses really can grow just about anywhere. In fact, wild roses grow naturally in northern temperate climates, including those with harsh winters. While most roses prefer USDA hardiness zones 6-9, a few will tolerate colder climates up to Zone 4. And some species roses – Rosa rugosa, R. glauca and R. spinosissima – are even more hardy.

Of course, gardeners living in these cold-winter climates didn’t necessarily want to limit themselves to growing only these roses in their gardens. And thanks to wonderful advances in rose breeding, they don’t have to! Today, home gardeners can enjoy beautiful sprays of various rose blooms just like their Southern counterparts – provided they select hybrids especially bred to tolerate cold and resist disease.

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If you’re looking for a cold-tolerant hedge rose, ‘Prairie Joy’ is a good option.

The best rose choices for cold-weather climates are those that grow on their own rootstock, since grafted bud unions are vulnerable to damage from freezing temperatures. Researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the University of Minnesota and House Meilland in France (among others), have created beautiful roses that reliably survive temperatures to USDA zones 2 and 3 with limited winter care.

Some hybridized, grafted roses are better able to survive freezing, expanding the choice if you live in zones 4-6. The Parkland and Explorer series – developed by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and named after prominent Canadian landmarks and pioneers – include several shrub roses with excellent cold tolerance. The various hybrids include roses with large blooms that are single, semidouble and double.

Facts

In general, USDA hardiness zones 2-5 are considered “cold” for roses. It’s wise to select winter-hardy varieties in these areas.
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Tips

If you live in a region in which temperatures can drop below -10 degrees F, you need to take extra measures to help many roses survive. In addition to selecting frost-hardy varieties from the start, allow the last blooms of fall to form hips, retain all canes, cover shrub roses in a mound of loose straw, wrap plants with burlap fabric, insulate roses with a layer of straw, and consider burying them in loose soil or covering them with rose cones.
If you don’t want to deal with winterizing your roses, consider planting your beauties in containers. That way you can move your pots inside during winter to protect them from the cold, then pop them back into the garden during the warmer months.
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Faqs

Q: What is tipping?
A: Tipping involves freeing half of your rose’s root ball from the ground and tipping the plant over to the side that’s still rooted. Then the plant is covered in soil, mulched and covered with burlap for the winter to protect it from the season’s cold.

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Articles

Bare-Root vs. Container Roses (What’s the Difference?)
Why are some roses sold bareroot while others are in containers? And is one better than the other? Learn the differences between these two options and decide what’s best for you. (And don’t worry – it’ll all turn out rosy!)
Winterizing Your Roses
If you live where winters get downright cold – or even just a bit frosty – it’s a good idea to protect your roses so they’ll keep blooming season after season. Learn the steps to helping your rose plants survive the coldest months of the year.
Did Your Roses Get Zapped?
Don’t let the freaky spring freeze get you – or your roses – down! While you may not see those beautiful blooms as early as you’d like, roses are hardy growers that will make a glorious comeback with the proper care.

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