I tried it in Tennessee, zone 7. It was never taller than two feet and we had a cold snap that killed it . I really wanted it to work! Maybe if it was against a house and you could try the old Christmas light trick ? Use old lights that warm up for the really really cold nights to give a little extra warmth ? I think they go under or over a fleece covering , I can’t remember where I read this but it could help !

Great suggestions Lily! I suggest up against a house as well. And I believe another poster, Cynthia, puts trash bags leaves around or beside them in winter for a wind break. There is research she said, that it's the wind that kills them. It dries the canes out I believe. Let us know what you decide and up date us. I think she is in zone 5, and I believe she grows as few Teas.

It is listed in MOBOT's plant finder and is supposedly in the botanical garden. I say supposedly because I have never been to the garden as of yet so I can't say.

Locally tender hybrid bush roses can even be buried in trenches for the winter each year - what cultivation regime a particular party is using is critical when reports of a given variety surviving in a cold climate are being interpreted.

I tried this one on a south wall in my part of USDA 8 and decided after several years of the flowers not opening properly that this explained why "Can't" was part of the name.

Location, location, location. I've had MBRC for several years now, possibly as long as ten years. I'd have to look up the receipt. But in any case, HERE, she suffers very little die back, and I'm only about 150 miles from where @Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca used to garden. MBRC is far from my most robust tea, though. That prize goes to Rosette Delizy (stand back!) and (applause, please!) Monsieur Tillier. RD does suffer some die back, but she always outgrows it. She's a strong girl. But I've had MT in a (now 20 gallon) POT for going on five years, with NO protection, in an exposed west-facing position. I keep meaning to plant him, but....(I think he's rooted in place now, anyway, lol).

As you know, the "rule" is that anything in a pot that is left outside over winter should be two zones hardier than your actual zone, to account for root exposure. MT *so far* has shrugged off my Z7a winters. Long may he continue (fingers crossed...on both hands).

Sooooo...if your heart isn't set on MBRC's pretty in pink blooms (admittedly, the form is more classic than MT's), you might try something with a better chance in your zone, like MT. As an aside, he's also healthy as a horse.

John

@Lilyfinch z9a Murrieta Ca - Thanks for sharing your experience! I’m glad you gave it a try. That’s what I’m afraid will happen here. I’m not sure I want to consistently use lights each winter but that is a thought.

@Alana8aSC - I may do better with bags of leaves to protect it. I also don’t mind using something light mounded at the base like pine bark nuggets.

@Brandon Garner - I hope to make it back out to MOBOT this spring - I’ll have to look out for her. It’s been a few years now since I’ve been there.

@Embothrium - Remind me where you garden? I wouldn’t keep her either if she did that consistently.

@fig_insanity Z7b E TN - That’s amazing that MT and RD do so well for you! I really like MT. How big does MBRC get for you. Does she struggle to rebound? I have thought about putting her in a pot for a year to put on some size and root mass, keep her with my other potted roses in my unheated garage during winter, and plant her out next year. I have heard she grows quickly, though, and so that may not work.

Having seen Miss Rose in many local and Regional Gardens I came to the conclusion that mrs. B r can't simply couldn't.

@Vaporvac Z6-OhioRiverValley Did she stay small there, maybe struggling to rebounding from winter or were there issues with the blooms as @Embothrium shared?

I think Winters were too much with freeze thaw. Perhaps some place with winter long snow would fare better. This was as far south as Southern Kentucky near Tennessee.

Thanks Vaporvac - that’s too bad. I think I probably just need to keep her where she’s at on my list.

Here in Zone 8a, all it took was one hard cold snap to kill mine, all the way to the roots. I didn't replace it.

In my zone 8a, she has survived 2 seasons. I think the best thing to do is try her yourself, in a protected high spot. Not in a low area, where cold can collect. I learned that the hard way and killed some by planting them in low areas. Best of luck, and I hope she does well for you.

I had her for a few years south of Nashville in what is technically Z7 although a few years ago I accepted with much regret that the USDA can say whatever they like, but it doesn't change the reality that I'm Z6 even in a "good" winter. She suffered significant die back each year, but was a robust grower and tried to make up for it each spring with a good couple feet and some lovely blooms. The cold was hard on her, but in my more rural setting the wind may have been worse. Then what survived into March got zapped with our spring freeze/thaw cycle. I dearly loved her blooms and I don't regret growing her, but I don't regret shovel pruning her either.

I have a wind protected spot beside a western facing limestone chimney available--I might try her again. I was able to grow Mutiblis (Z8) there for quite a few years and I suspect that one to have been even more cold sensitive.

Thank you Erasmus, Paul, Alana, and Subk3 for sharing your experience. It’s amazing that she also does so well for you, Erasmus. Beautiful bloom, too! Definitely a lot to think about. I will likely have to consider an even more protected area if I’m going to try her.

Give it a try. If you have a spot on the south side of your house, put it there.

Here in dry zone 7A she was so unhappy after even mild winters that I removed her.

I am in zone 6a, have one in a pot. It’s too cold here, I store it in an unheated basement during the winter months.

USDA zone designations don't bounce up and down with individual low temperature occurrences - they are based on average lows over specific periods of years.

Thanks for sharing your experience, noseometer. That seems to be the weighted consensus.

I wish I did have an option on the south side of my house, Ken. Currently it is completely shaded by mature hickory and oak trees. I do put many other hardy potted plants there over winter, though.

How long has your MBRC been in a pot summersrhythm? I keep many potted roses in an unheated garage but don’t know if she could be kept in a pot very long.

Mine is about 3 yrs old band. It needs to be repotted. It’s not big, maybe because it’s in a 3 gal clay pot, I didn’t know clay pots dry out much faster than plastic pots.

In your experience, have any of you seen different “versions” or imposters of MBRC? The photos on ARE, RVR, HCR, and other websites look different in color, but similar bloom form. I’m just wondering if that can account for some of the variability in hardiness, too.