NGC - Explorer Roses for the Prairies

Explorer Roses for the Prairies

These amazingly hardy roses were developed by Agriculture Canada specifically for Canadian conditions. They are named after early Canadian Explorers who endured the extreme climate. Explorer roses are easy to care for, as they don't need much pruning and the only winter protection they require is a good snow cover. Most have a good resistance to black spot & powdery mildew. The Explorers are fragrant, repeat bloomers, growing on their own roots. They come in different shapes and sizes, from climbers to bushes to low-growing groundcovers.

Cultivar Name	Height Spread	Zone	Flowers	Description
Alexander Mackenzie	3-5'x4-5	3	Single, deep red blooms.	These fragrant blooms resemble a hybrid tea rose. They are highly resistant to blackspot & powdery mildew. Bloom from July until frost.
Captain Samuel Holland	6'x2.5'	3	Medium red flowers.	Tall pillar-type plant with arching branches. Clusters of flowers bloom freely and repeatedly throughout the season. Resistant to powdery mildew & blackspot.
Champlain	2-3'x3'	3	Double flowers that are bright red in color.	Slightly scented flowers that bloom continuously throughout the summer and fall. Flowers are velvety and the foliage is a shiny dark green. Good resistance to powdery mildew and black spot.
David Thompson	3'x3'	3	Double, medium red flowers.	A compact plant with fragrant flowers that bloom continually. With its prolific blooms, this compact rose makes a great accent plant. It is also suitable for informal hedges. Highly resistant to blackspot & powdery mildew.
Frontenac	3'x3'	3	Double, deep pink blooms.	An upright plant that blooms heavily with small clusters of large fragrant flowers from early summer until frost. Very hardy with a good resistance to blackspot & powdery mildew.
George Vancouver	3'x2'	3	A double, medium red flower.	A compact, upright shrub that resembles 'Champlain' but has better resistance to disease. Blooms from early summer until early fall with lightly fragrant clusters of flowers. Produces masses of rosehips in the fall.
Henry Hudson	2'x2'	3	Double white flower with pink tinge.	Low growing shrub with continuously blooming clusters of flowers that resemble apple blossoms. Highly resistant to blackspot & powdery mildew.
Henry Kelsey	8-10'x4'	3	A double, medium red flower.	Rambling rose with arching stems that may be trained to climb. Showy clusters of flowers with a spicy fragrance that bloom throughout the summer. This hardy rose is resistant to mildew & moderately resistant to blackspot.
John Cabot	8-10'x4'	3	A double, medium red bloom.	May be a climber or upright with arching stems. Fragrant flowers that bloom mainly in early summer. Good resistance to blackspot & powdery mildew.
John Davis	6-8'x4'	2	Semi-double bloom that is orchid pink in color and has a spicy scent..	Vigorous rambling rose with arching stems that may be trained as a climber. Flowers bloom freely from June until frost. Highly resistant to blackspot and powdery mildew. Excellent hardiness.
John Franklin	3-4'x3-4'	3	Semi-double, medium red blooms.	A low-growing, compact shrub with slightly fragrant flowers that bloom profusely from July until frost in large clusters. Moderate resistance to blackspot and powdery mildew.
Lambert Closse	2'x2'	3	Creamy pink flowers.	An upright busy-type rose with lush, dark glossy green foliage. Makes an excellent cutflower. Good resistance to blackspot & powdery mildew.
Louis Jolliet	3-4'x3-4'	3	Medium pink flowers with a spicy fragrance.	A very cold-hardy climbing rose with a trailing growth habit and flowers that bloom all summer. Resistant to powdery mildew & blackspot.
Quadra	4-5'x3'	3	Deep red buds opening to double, rich red flowers.	An impressive climbing rose with a spreading growth habit. Flowers have a light, sweet fragrance and bloom in late June through summer. Resistant to powdery mildew & blackspot.
Royal Edward	2'x2'	3	Vibrant pink flowers.	Semi-miniature, low spreading rose that blooms in early summer until frost in lightly fragrant clusters. An excellent choice for a border or groundcover. Resistant to powdery mildew & blackspot.
Simon Fraser	2'x2'	3	Medium pink blooms that are single in early spring, turning to semi-double.	A low, compact rose with an upright growth habit. An excellent border shrub that requires little pruning. These lightly fragrant flowers bloom in June and continue until frost.
William Baffin	8-10'x4-5'	3	Medium red flowers.	Hardy, pillar type climber that has strong arching canes. A continuous bloomer with a showy display of up to 30 flowers. Highly resistant to blackspot and mildew.

Compiled by Rachel Giesbrecht on June 7, 2004