Due to the low winter hardiness of roses, their cultivation in regions with long and cold winters is not very successful. This problem is relevant for different countries. Back in the last century, Canadian breeders were able to develop special frost-resistant varieties that tolerate cold winters without even shelter. In addition, they are unpretentious in care. The lush and long bloom of Canadian winter-hardy roses is pleasing to the eye, even in areas with the most severe climatic conditions.
Gardeners from around the world praised the work of Canadian breeders. To obtain unpretentious plants growing conditions, hybrid varieties “cordesa” and “rugosa” were used, as well as various species roses. All this allowed to create magnificent decorative flowers.
Below is information about the Canadian rose: description, varieties, characteristics, features of growing and propagation.
Plant advantages
It should be noted quite high decorative properties of these colors. The bushes are distinguished by bright lush greens and inflorescences, painted in a variety of colors. All this allows you to bring bright wonderful colors into the space of the landscape.
The advantage is the long duration of flowering (from late June to autumn frosts).
Of course, these varieties do not look as exquisite as tea hybrid. They are not as fragrant as their classic English counterparts, and also do not look as spectacular as climbing roses. However, they have many advantages: endurance, unpretentiousness, excellent winter hardiness, rich color of lush flowers. Yes, and they bloom in the strip of Russia twice (though the second time is not very plentiful).
Another very important advantage of these roses is that they are beautifully cut.
Description
Canadian roses are relative newcomers to the global flower market. But every year they gain more and more love and popularity of fans of roses from many countries of the world.
Practice shows that roses are able to withstand cold climatic conditions not only in Canada, but even in Alaska. They can overwinter even in 35–45 ‑ degree frosts without special shelter. Another important feature of the variety is its good resistance to diseases and pests, even when the bush is in the shade.
Canada’s breeders have developed climbing and bush forms. Bushes, depending on the variety, reach a height of 50 to 300 cm. They differ in rich beautiful foliage and a small number of not very large thorns.
The main decoration of the Canadian roses are flowers of different sizes and shapes, depending on the variety. Terry inflorescences look beautiful and spectacular, the diameter of which can vary between 5-15 cm. After two waves of flowering, fruits appear on the bushes that look no less impressive and decorative.
Roses of Canadian origin go well with other plants. They are decorated with flower beds, arches and wonderful hedges are made of them of incredible beauty, and arbours are also woven around them.
Classification
Canadian roses are difficult to classify because they are bred using many hybrid and species forms. Since the main goal of the breeders was to obtain winter-hardy and hardy roses, the hybrids “rugosa” and “cordesa” were used as the mother varieties, as noted above. They crossed with local Canadian species.
Today on sale you can find a large number of varieties of "canadas" bred in different countries. It should be noted that only two groups of plants belong exclusively to Canada: Parkland and Explorer. The first of them differs in various forms and shades, and the second group is very fragrant climbing roses.
Explorer series (by the name of the pioneer-researcher) is a disease-resistant and low-temperature, lush and long-flowering plants. They count more than 20 varieties with a variety of characteristics: weaving, ampelous, and smelling strongly. It should be noted that the Explorer series includes varieties with ampelous shoots, the length of which can reach 3 m (William Baffin and Martin Frobisher), as well as the Therese Bugnet rose, which differs in early flowering (flowers bloom in May).
Parkland series (belong to park varieties) was created a little later. It includes about 15 varieties with erect branches and magnificent double flowers of various shades. This series was created in the town of Morden (Canada), in connection with which almost all the names of these varieties begin with the word Morden. This series is not very winter-hardy, but the bushes after freezing quite quickly recover and regain their former beauty.
Below are the most popular and common varieties of Canadian roses.
Henry Hudson
Rose belongs to the Explorer series. She was bred in 1976. The height of the compact bush is 90–100 cm. The flowers of a whitish and pinkish hue have an average size (up to 7 cm). Flowering undulating throughout the summer.
The flower perfectly tolerates the shadow and is a good option for decorating the front section of the territory and small flower beds.
JP Connell (Explorer)
The variety was bred in 1987. Erect bush, rather tall (about 1.5 m). Luxurious large leaves are painted bright green. Terry flowers of a light yellow hue are no less spectacular. The rose grows slowly and blooms the first two years once.
This variety is most often used by gardeners in the design of alleys, park areas and flower beds.
Morden amorette
The variety, bred in 1977, belongs to the Parkland series. This is the shortest form of Canadian rose in this series. In warm climatic conditions, the height of the bushes can reach 90 cm, and in colder latitudes - no more than 40 cm.
On a compact shrub are large flowers (7 cm) of a purple or dark pink hue with a strong aroma. They show a slight light spotting. The variety grows well in hot, dry climates.
Morden Blush (Parkland Series)
The most abundantly blooming and fragrant rose from this series was launched in 1988. On a compact bush (width and height - up to 1 m) are medium-sized double flowers (up to 6 cm). They are collected several pieces in one inflorescence. Petals are cream and pale pink. The flowers have a rich pink tint.
Roses of this variety are also resistant to cold, heat and disease, and they also keep their shape for a long time.
Charles Albanel
The rose belonging to the Explorer series is most often found in summer cottages. The bush is undersized (75 cm). Strongly smelling flowers have a fuchsia shade.
Thanks to the flexible shoots creating a dense shelter, the rose can be used as a groundcover.
Planting a grafted rose
Before planting a seedling, you should dig a hole and pour a mixture of fertilizers into it: humus, peat, compost, complex fertilizers and wood ash. In it you need to plant a grafted rose; the vaccination site is deepened by approximately 5–10 cm.
Just in case, in the first winter it is necessary to huddle the base of the bush to a height of about 20 cm - a mixture of sand and earth in equal parts is suitable for this. In subsequent years, there is no need to carry out a similar procedure. Roses of this species winter well and do not need hilling, bending shoots and sheltering them.
Care
Canadian roses can grow in any environment. Caring for them is quite simple. Sunny areas are preferable for them, but they also grow well in the shade. And they are not demanding on the composition of the soil, but they respond well to periodic top dressing: shoots begin to grow violently and flowering becomes more magnificent. Liquid fertilizers (ash solution, mullein or mineral mixtures) are best suited for this procedure. They should be introduced around the bush in small depressions. A plant in severe drought must be watered.
For Canadian varieties, pruning is optional, but for climbing and ampelous roses it is desirable. This will not only give the bush a well-groomed appearance, but also rejuvenate it.
Sanitary pruning should be done in the spring, before the buds open. It is necessary to remove all damaged and diseased lashes and shorten the tops of some branches. Throughout the summer, faded buds should be removed. Autumn pruning can not be carried out, since roses do not need shelter for the winter.
Propagation by cuttings
Canadian roses propagate by cuttings cut from young but fully formed shoots. This event should be held in mid-summer. The blanks should have a length of 25-30 cm. This size cuttings quickly root due to their deep immersion in the ground (better absorbed nutrients). For easy deepening of the handle, the lower cut should be done at an angle.
After removing all leaves except the top two, the stalk should be immersed in a solution that promotes rapid root growth. Keep the seedling in it for several hours. It should be noted that this measure is optional, but it helps to accelerate the rooting of seedlings.
"Canadians" are extremely tenacious, in connection with which their cuttings can be immediately planted in a permanent place. Rooting will succeed if the place is properly prepared.
The soil before planting rooted cuttings must be carefully dug and fertilized with organic matter (peat, compost). Cuttings are dug into the ground under a slight bias. After planting, the plant must be well watered and covered with jars or plastic bottles.
At what distance should plants be planted? It all depends on the variety. Seedlings of Canadian roses, which grow up to 2 m in height, it is recommended to plant at a distance of 1 m from each other. Varieties of roses of medium height (up to 1.5 m) - at a distance of about 60 cm, and undersized (up to 1 m) - 35–40 cm. It is important to note that to prevent overheating, seedlings must be shaded or covered with dark transparent bottles. Cuttings finally take root in the fall, but it is better to remove the shelter next spring.
Opinions of gardeners about a rose
Many gardeners have appreciated the climbing and park Canadian roses. Reviews about them are mostly positive. If they are not perceived as a classic rose, but as a beautiful shrub with bright and lush flowers, then they leave competitors far behind.
Reviews of flower growers suggest that the "canadians" grow well in areas with a continental climate, where cold winters and long and hot summers predominate. While classic English roses bloom for only a day (burn in the heat), Canadian varieties hold perfectly in any weather. They bloom constantly and plentifully.
Unpretentious Canadian roses are perfect for those who are forced to grow flowers in adverse conditions. They are characterized by high frost resistance, but at the same time do not lose their decorative properties.