The hardy Explorer & Parkland roses were bred by Canada's Agriculture-Agrafood Department for excellent
hardiness without protection except natural snowfall, disease resistance's to blackspot and mildew and good
repeat blooming performance. In our opinion they have successfully accomplished what they set out to do.
These are among the hardiest, modern shrub roses you will find anywhere! (most hardy to zone 3)
Hardy Roses - Explorer & Parkland Series Roses
Alexander MacKenzie (1985)Explorer RoseBush viewDeep raspberry red
blooms of very nice form born in clusters of 6-12. Double blooms have 40-50
petals. Tall upright bush can be used as a low climber. Grow to 7' x 4'. Light
fragrance. Repeats well. Healthy, purple tint foliage. Zone. 3.
Champlain (1982)Semi-double flowers have 30 petals and are a true red color.
Very free flowering. Blooms born in clusters of 6-12. Small bush only grows 3'
x3'. Slightly fragrant. Some winterkill here in Nova Scotia but is quick to
bounce back and is in full flower by June. Moderately disease resistant to
blackspot. Great bed & border rose. Zone 4
Charles Albanel Hybrid rugosa
Semi-double flowers have 30
petals and are a lovely deep
mauve pink. Very free flowering.
good repeat bloomer with flowers
born in clusters of 6-8. Small bush
only grows 2.5' x3'. Slightly
fragrant. Very inter hardy and
disease resistant. Great bed &
border rose. Zone 4
Frontenac(1992) Deep pink, double
blooms born in clusters of 6-8. Very
floriferous with great repeats. Disease
resistant. Grows 4' 4'. Hardy zone 3.
George Vancouver(1994) Deep red buds open into deep
pink , double flowers of 24 petals. Blooms born in clusters
of 1-6. Blooms from June till September. Good disease
resistance. Upright healthy growth. 3' x3' zone 3
Henry Hudson (1973) rugosa Hyb. Deep pink/red buds open to the purest white semi-double rose
with a yellow center. Blooms born in clusters. Fragrant as most rugosas are. Healthy very disease
resistant plant that only grows 3'x 3'on its own roots. Budded/grafted it can grow up to 5'x5'. Repeats
readily. Zone 3 Makes wonderful low edge or great bed & boarder plant.
HENRY KELSEY (1984) One of the first bred really hardy, red climbing roses. Flowers are a nice
medium red with a golden center, semi-double shape. Light, spicy fragrance. Blooms are born in cluster
of 6-8. Long arching canes can reach up to 7' each. Semi-vigorous, healthy growth. Leaves are shiny
deep green and very resistant to mildew and a good resistancy to blackspot. Hardy to zone 3 with little
dieback.
J.P. Connell(1987)Double, large
blooms of creamy yellow are born
on almost thornless stems. Nice
fragrance. Very hyb. Tea looking
for a hardy shrub. Moderate
disease resistance to blackspot.
Vigorous, upright growth. Grows 3'
x 5' Repeats well. Needs a sunny
location and good rich soil. Zone 4
JENS MUNKA rugosa hybrid rose
bearing clusters of medium to pale pink,
semi-souble blooms on a very healthy
and well manored bush of 5' x 5'. A very
beautiful and upright facing bloom of 25
petals. Nice fragrance and good repeated
flowering. Zone 2.
John Davis (1978)also in
climbers- Vigorous bush can
make wonderful climber
budded/grafted to 10'. On it's
own roots it makes a great
large low climber or bush of 6'
x6'. Very disease resistant and
hardy. Lovely light green
foliage. Blooms are double,
silvery pink born in clusters of
6-16. Very floriferous. Spicy
fragrance. Zone 3.
John Cabot (1978) also in
climbers- Vigorous bush makes
great climber if budded
/grafted. Own roots somewhat
smaller makes low climber or
high bush of 6' x6' Lovely
fushia red blooms. Born in
clusters. Repeats well. Healthy
foliage. Slight fragrance. Some
dieback in colder zones.
Bounds back great. Zone 4.
Lambert Closse (1995) This is going
to be a winner! Low compact bush
bears the loveliest shade of pink
very double (52 petals), hyb. Tea
form blooms in clusters. Fragrant.
Flowers From June to September.
Good resistancy to blackspot &
mildew. Grows 3' x3' Hardy to
Zone 3.
Louis Jolliet (1991)Very full, loose petaled
blooms of med. Pink fading to light pink.
Blooms born in large clusters on long arching
canes. Continuous blooms and nice
fragrance. We love this roses as it reminds us
of the old amblers but it reblooms. Good
disease resistance. Grows 4' 6' zone 3.
Marie-Victorin (1998) Marie-Victorin is a hardy shrub rose introduced in 1998. The plant reaches a height of 1.40
m and 1.25 m. It is winter-hardy, flowers abundantly and repeatedly, and is highly resistant to blackspot and
powdery mildew. The unopened bud which is a deep peach colour changes to a pale peach at the blossom stage and
later fades to a pink in the fully opened flower. The flowers average 9 cm in diameter, have 38 petals and are borne
in clusters of 1 - 7 blooms. It is hardy in zone 3
Morden Blush (1988) This is a very
popular rose both for its small,
compact shape and its Hyb. Tea
blooms. This almost ever blooming
shrub bears lovely pointed buds
opening into double, high centered
blooms of blush pink in clusters.
Blooms are about 2 ½" wide.
Moderate resistant to blackspot.
Grows 3' x3' Zone 3.
Prairie Joy (1990) One of the few hardy roses that are
not a rugosa that is great for a hedge. The form of these
beautiful medium pink blooms open cupped and old
rose form. Double (40 petals), born in clusters. Repeats
well. Healthy foliage on dense bush 6'x 6'. Zone 3.
Royal Edward(1997)New rose on
the market. Royal Edward is a
miniature rose that grows 2 ½"x 2
½'. Blooms are semi-double,
medium pink. Blooms are in clusters
of 1-3. Fragrant. Great for beds &
boarders. Repeats well. Zone 4.
Simon Fraser(1992) Semi-double blooms of medium
pink born in small clusters. Blooms continuously from
June till September. Glossy, healthy foliage. Compact
habit. 3'x 3'. Zone 3.
Winnipeg Parks (1993) Dense, compact bush 3'x
3'. Double blooms have 22 petals. Born in clusters
of 1-4. Beautiful medium red blooms. with only
slight fragrance. Bush is moderately resistant to
blackspot. Hardy zone 3.
William Baffin (1983) also in climbers -
The most hardy of all the Explorer
climbers. Lovely raspberry pink
semi-double blooms have a prominent
golden center. Blooms are born in
large clusters. Repeats very well. Very
good disease resistance. Vigorous
growth that can reach 10'
budded/grafted or 6-7' own roots.
Very eye catching from a distance.
Zone 3.
Parkland Roses ( Bred in Morden Manitoba )
S=shrub rose, C=climber
Click on rose name for a picture!