Explorer Roses

If you're looking for an extremely hardy flower then the Explorer roses are an ideal choice.

Into the history books….

These breeds were first created in Canada. The Department of Agriculture there developed a flower that could withstand the harsh winters of upper North America. They would also need to be resistant to disease and have low maintenance. It looks like the first of these flowers were released in the 1970s. You may also see these labeled as Parkland, although that is a separate series altogether. Since then, there have been many varieties released, all with strong hardiness.

Beauty

The main draw to these plants are the hardiness and the low maintenance. However, they do look very nice as well. Many do well as climbers. Most are not known for their great fragrances. With so many breeds available, there are always some that catch my eye:

William Baffin rose - A great looking pink hybrid.

John Cabot Rose - A beautiful bush with nice magenta blooms.

Gardening

Most Explorer roses are hardy to zone 3, and some even to zone 2. They have been said to survive even in temperatures forty below zero. Obviously, winterizing these breeds are not a big concern. A modest amount of snow cover should suffice in most cases. They are also bred to need very little pruning and bug and mildew maintenance.