You did well. The Explorer series roses were developed in Canada specifically to withstand our harsh winters.

Ianna

Memo is your climbing pink rose 'John Davis'? If it is you won't have anything to worry about. I have this rose planted in the back and it doesn't even get much snow cover....and it has come back for many years.....blooms most of the summer right up till freeze. My explorers don't get pampered at all...and no problems with cold winter temps. and we get colder than you.

Sierra

Sierra, the package does not name the rose, Climbing Pink is all it says bisides Explorer Rose. It is a grafted rose. I hope it works for me!

Thanks, Ianna!

MeMo

Ummmmmmm Explorer roses are not grafted roses...they are own root as far as I know....at least any I bought or have seen. They are also of the names of explorers. Grafted roses won't survive in my zone...I hope you have luck with it and show us pics when it blooms. I am curious to what yours is. hmmmm

Sierra

I'm so in love with your shed!!!! It's sooo cute!

Edna

Sierra - I have seen Explorers on grafted roots. Never been a draw for me. Memo, you could try putting a bale of straw over the base for the winter - I'm thinking you get lots of snow!! lol. You can also look for Morden's - they are from the Winterpeg area north of you; also, the Sub-Zero series. Not sure where they are from, mine is on it's own root stock, but was grown in Texas!!! Anyway, it has come through it's first northern weather just fine!!!

Hey, you could also try to get shoots to root. That might give you a new rose, on its own roots!!!

Nancy - who is waiting for the honey truck!!!

Hi Memo, I don't grow these myself but found this bit of info for you to browse through, scroll down to the bottom you'll see a contact where you might find out more about your rose, hope this helps.

Annette

Here is a link that might be useful: Explorer roses and more

Nancy, Sub-zero roses don't do well in my zone.

Annette, That is good info.

Sierra

I gave up on Sub-Zeros a long time ago. No luck at all with them. I am, however, very fond of my three Explorers: William Baffin, Champlain, and John Cabot. I wish they had scent, but unlike many of my extravagantly scented beauties, they are alive.

Please excuse my memory lapse. I looked at far too many roses that day. I did get one that is cold hardy, it's a Sub-zero, however, not an Explorer. I'm sorry, I do have a cognitive disorder.

The name of it is Climbing Pink Queen. It says on the bag, hardy to -35F. and on the tag it says hardy to -30F. Which does make all the difference in the world really, 5 degrees is equivalent to half a zone. The rose is grafted but the planting instructions say to plant the pot two inches deeper than ground level and then to mound the soil three inches above ground level. That would put the graft about 4-5 inches under dirt. Very similar to the recommendations in the article that Annette posted above. Thanks for the article, Annette, it was very informative! Question...Would it not be wiser to plant it five inches below ground level to start with so I didn't have to worry about the dirt coming un-mounded? That could easily happen in torrential rain storms etc. I would appreciate your input on this question, thanks. We do not usually have much snow cover here. We get two or three snows a year to speak of and generally not more than 2ft. The rest is just flurries that leave and inch or eight. The temps are the worst of it.

MeMo

I think you're on the right track with the idea to plant deep. The author of the book linked below would certainly agree with you. It's a good book, by the way, and you can get it used on Amazon for 39â, I see. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Tender Roses for Tough Climates

Oh Memo, this makes more sense now. But I am afraid the sub-zero's aren't as tough. Yes I would definately bury the bud union deep. If you can in the fall, winter protect with lots of straw. The canes above the snow level or protected area will probably die back quite a bit. So pruning will be a must. Good Luck Girl, everybody has to try these rose for themselves to see if they grow for them. Hope it does well for you. Do keep us posted on how it is doing.

Sierra