Cane Hardy Roses for  Zones 2-5

Alba 'Konigin von Danemark'

 Roses with canes that don't die back during the winter.

"Hardy Roses" can be a confusing term. When a rose is rated for instance, zone 5,
that only means the roots won't die in that zone. Unfortunately "winter hardy" does not mean
the roses canes  (branches) will survive the winter nor does it mean that the rose will bounce back,
be vigorous and bloom well in that zone. Although some will, many don't.

If you do not know what zone you are in please refer to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map >>> Click Here

This article is dedicated to zone 2-5 rose growers that are discouraged with roses that die back every year or perform poorly because they cannot handle the harsh zone 2-5 winters and do not possess the ability to bounce back and perform well.  I will focus on climbers and shrubs where substantial growth is desirable.  Nothing is more frustrating than wanting a big climber to cover an arbor or trellis only to have it die back to the ground every winter and only manage to grow 3-4 feet or so during the growing season.  Or once blooming roses that bloom on second  year wood that never bloom due to cane die back. 

Please understand that many variations may possibly occur within the same zone depending on sun exposure, dehydration and wind damage (a major killer of over-wintering roses) the lay of the land, where the rose is planted such as in the open, near a building or a sheltered southern exposure, etc.  Some roses that might be cane hardy in your zone may not be for others in the same zone.  It is advisable to protect young roses their first winter. 

You will not find a complete list of cane hardy roses here, just some recommendations I've gathered from other rose gardeners in cold zones and links to other helpful articles on cane hardy roses. 
I won't go into the following since there are too many to list but as a rule most Alba, Rugosa, Canadian Explorer, Morden and Pavement roses are cane hardy as well as many Rambler, Gallica and Species Roses but they might not all be so selectiveness is definitely needed.   Special caution is needed when considering some of the newer hybrid Rambler, Rugosa and Alba roses since die back may occur on some of them due to tender roses in their parentage.  Yellow roses tend to be tender.
here is an incomplete list of roses  known to be cane hardy in the coldest areas of zone 5 and I will indicate with a "Z4" if it is known to be cane hardy in zone 4. 

• Louise Odier            
• Mme. Hardy
• Dorothy Perkins
• Excelsa
• Victorian Memory
• Champagne Arches
• Bourbon Queen
• Apple Jack
• Fruhlingsduft
• Ramblin Red/Z4
• Russelliana/Z4 (or Russell's Cottage Rose)
• White Mountains/Z4
• Constance Spry
• Banshee/Z4
• Darlows Enigma
• Lillian Gibson/Z4
• Prairie Dawn/Z4
• Reine des Violettes/Z4
• Rose de Rescht/Z4
• Viking Queen
• Charles de Mills
• Nymphenberg
• Belle de Crecy
• Darlows Enigma
• Harrison's Yellow

Helpful links to more information on hardy roses:

Here are two websites for selecting hardy roses for northern climates...

CLICK HERE 

and

HERE

Make sure to check out the Canadian Rose Society's website
for more recommendations for cane hardy roses in cold zones. 

CLICK HERE

Please note the other helpful information on the Canadian Rose Society 
website but be aware that not all of the roses they recommend will be "cane hardy"
on the "Recommended Rose" page, rather many are roses that will survive 2-5 zone
winters with varying degrees of cane die back.

HARDY DAVID AUSTIN ENGLISH ROSES

 The following English Roses can be considered crown hardy in zone 4.
Mulching roses in Z4 after the ground freezes is advisable.

Abraham Darby
A Shropshire Lad
Charlotte
Cottage Rose
Constance Spry (cane hardy Z5)
Crocus Rose
Gertrude Jekyll
Golden Celebration
Graham Thomas
L.D. Braithwaite
Mary Rose
Redoute
Rosemoor
Sharifa Asma
The Mayflower
Winchester Cathedral

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