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. Canadian breeders in the last century were able to develop special frost-resistant varieties that perfectly endure a cold winter even without shelter. In addition, they are unpretentious in care. Lush and long flowering of Canadian winter-hardy roses pleases the eye even in areas with the most severe climatic conditions.
Gardeners from all over the world highly appreciated the work of Canadian breeders. To obtain plants unpretentious to growing conditions, hybrid varieties of "cordesa" and "rugosa", as well as various species roses, were used. All this made it possible to create magnificent decorative flowers.
Below is information about the Canadian rose: description, varieties, characteristics, cultivation and reproduction features.
Plant Virtues
It should be noted rather high decorative properties of these flowers. The bushes are distinguished by bright lush greenery and inflorescences painted in a variety of colors. All this allows you to bring bright wonderful colors into the space of the landscape.
An advantage is the long duration of flowering (from the end of June until autumn frosts).
Of course, these varieties do not look as elegant as hybrid tea. They are not as fragrant as their classic English counterparts, and also do not look as impressive 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 (although the second time is not very plentiful).
Another very important advantage of these roses is that they cut beautifully.
Description
Canadian roses are relative newcomers to the global floriculture market. But every year they win more and more love and popularity of rose fans 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 much shelter. Another important feature of the variety is good resistance to diseases and pests, even when the bush is in the shade.
Climbing and bush forms have been bred by Canadian breeders. bushesdepending on the variety, they reach a height of 50 to 300 cm. They differ in rich beautiful foliage and a small number of not very large spines.
The main decoration of the Canadian rose are flowers of different sizes and shapes, depending on the variety. Terry inflorescences look beautiful and impressive, the diameter of which can vary within 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. Flower beds are decorated with them, arches and wonderful hedges are made of unthinkable beauty, and arbors are braided with them.
Classification
Canadian roses are difficult to classify because they were bred using many hybrid and specific forms. Since the main goal of the breeders was to obtain winter-hardy and hardy roses, as noted above, hybrids of “rugosa” and “cordes” were used as a basis as maternal varieties. They interbred with native Canadian species.
Today on sale you can find a large number of varieties of "Canadians" bred in different countries. It should be noted that only two groups of plants belong exclusively to Canadian: Parkland and Explorer. The first of them is distinguished by various shapes and shades, and the second group is very fragrant climbing roses.
The Explorer series (named after the discoverer-researcher) are disease and low temperature resistant, lush and long flowering plants. They number more than 20 varieties with various characteristics: weaving, ampelous, strongly smelling. It should be noted that the Explorer series includes varieties with ampel shoots that can reach 3 m in length (William Baffin and Martin Frobisher), as well as the Therese Bugnet rose, which is characterized by early flowering (flowers bloom in May).
The Parkland series (refer to park varieties) was created a little later. It includes about 15 varieties with erect branches and magnificent double flowers of different shades. This series was created in the town of Morden (Canada), and therefore almost all the names of these varieties begin with the word Morden. This series is not distinguished by high winter hardiness, but after freezing, the bushes 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 released in 1976. The height of the compact bush is 90–100 cm. The whitish and pinkish flowers are of medium size (up to 7 cm). Blooms in waves throughout the summer.
The flower tolerates shade well and is a good option for decorating the front area of the territory and small flower beds.
J. P. Connell (Explorer)
The variety was bred in 1987. Upright bush, quite tall (about 1.5 m). Luxurious large leaves are painted in bright green. No less spectacular and terry flowers of a light yellow hue. The rose is growingslowly and blooms once for the first two years.
This variety is most often used by flower growers when decorating alleys, park areas and flower beds.
Morden Amorette
The variety, bred in 1977, belongs to the Parkland series. This is the shortest form of the 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, large flowers (7 cm) of a purple or dark pink hue, with a strong aroma, are located. They have a slight light spotting. The variety also grows well in hot, dry climates.
Morden Blush (Parkland Series)
The most abundantly blooming and fragrant rose of this series was bred in 1988. On a compact bush (width and height - up to 1 m) are double flowers of medium size (up to 6 cm). They are collected in several pieces in one inflorescence. The petals are cream and pale pink. The flowers have a rich pink hue.
Roses of this variety are also resistant to cold, heat and disease, and they also keep their shape for a long time.
Charles Albanel
Belonging to the Explorer series, the rose is most often found in summer cottages. Bush undersized (75 cm). The strongly scented flowers are fuchsia in color.
The rose can be used as a groundcover with flexible shoots that provide dense cover.
Planting a grafted rose
Before planting a seedling, you should dig a hole and pour a mixture of fertilizer into it: humus, peat, compost, complex fertilizers and wood ash. You need to plant a grafted rose in it; the grafting site is deepened by approximately 5–10 cm.
Just in case, in the first winter, it is necessary to pile up the base of the bush to a height of approximately 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 down shoots and their shelter.
Care
Canadian roses can grow in any conditions. 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 into small depressions. A plant in a 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 bud break. 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 is possibledo not carry out, as roses do not need shelter for the winter.
Propagation by cuttings
Canadian roses are propagated by cuttings cut from young but fully formed shoots. This event should be held in the middle of summer. The blanks should be 25–30 cm long. Cuttings of this size quickly take root due to their deep immersion in the ground (nutrient substances are better absorbed). To easily deepen the cutting, the lower cut should be made at an angle.
After removing all but the top two leaves, the cutting 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, and therefore their cuttings can be immediately planted in a permanent place. Rooting will be successful if the place is properly prepared.
The soil before planting rooted cuttings must be carefully dug up and fertilized with organic matter (peat, compost). Cuttings are dug into the ground at a slight slope. After planting, the plant must be well watered and covered with jars or plastic bottles.
How far apart should plants be planted? It all depends on the variety. Canadian rose seedlings that grow up to 2 m in height are recommended to be planted 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 in order to prevent overheatingseedlings must be shaded or covered with dark transparent bottles. The cuttings will finally take root by autumn, but it is better to remove the shelter next spring.
Opinions of flower growers about the rose
Many flower growers have appreciated climbing and park Canadian roses. Reviews about them are mostly positive. If they are perceived not as a classic rose, but as a beautiful shrub with bright and lush flowers, then they leave the competition far behind.
Reviews of flower growers say that "Canadians" grow well in areas with a continental climate, where cold winters and long and hot summers prevail. While classic English roses bloom for only a day (burn in the heat), Canadian varieties hold up well in any weather. They bloom constantly and profusely.
Unpretentious Canadian roses are perfect for those who are forced to grow flowers in adverse conditions. They are highly frost-resistant, but do not lose their decorative properties.
