17 Different Varieties of Winter Hardy Roses For Cold Climates

Do you live in a region where temperatures drop below -50 degrees Fahrenheit? Perhaps you just get the occasional frost but don’t want the hassle of providing extra winter protection? Either way, you want a rose that’s tough. If you select the right roses, you can rest easy that they’ll make it through the worst winter with ease!

Whether you garden in the far north or just want to grow roses that can handle an unusual cold snap, there are lots of hardy varieties that won’t let you down. Some of these roses were bred to stand up to the chilliest Canadian winters, while others have simply proven their toughness over time, all on their own.

When I think of winter-hardy roses, I usually think of big, climbing beasts, spreading wide and high, laughing at the cold. While there are roses like that, there are also roses far more dainty in stature but just as tough!

‘Simon Fraser’ named for the Canadian Explorer who charted the Fraser River, is just such a rose. At only 2 feet tall, it can fit in nearly anywhere. This rose is full and robust enough to work as a cold-hardy ground cover, or pretty low hedge.

 ‘Simon Fraser’ is a nice option for gardeners in cold climates and small spaces, but it could also make an impact planted En masse in a larger garden.

Lightly fragrant single to semi-double flowers with creamy yellow centers and pink rose petals cover this shrub. ‘Simon’ repeat blooms through the summer and in addition to being cold-hardy, it is extremely resistant to disease. A truly worry-free rose!

‘William Baffin’

	botanical name Rosa ‘William Baffin’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 7’-10’
	hardiness zones 2-9

‘William Baffin’ (along with many others in this list) is part of the reliably hardy Canadian Explorer Series. Bred at a research station in Manitoba, Canada, these roses are designed to make it through harsh Canadian winters. Environmental friendliness is a huge perk, as these roses are resistant to black spot and mildew, needing no sprays to look beautiful.

“William’ is a vibrant strawberry pink with a yellow eye. It climbs up to 10 feet and needs sturdy support. A multi-award winner, this climbing rose will wow you with near-constant repeat of open, semi-double blooms all summer.

‘William Baffin’ makes a great privacy hedge or barrier with extremely spiny, red canes. The attractive leaves are small and bright green, turning yellow in fall. ‘William’ also provides winter interest with bright tomato-red hips!

‘Lauren’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Lauren’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 2-9

With lovely violet-magenta clusters of double blooms, ‘Lauren’ is another small-statured stunner.  ‘Lauren’s’ blooms slowly fade to pinkish-white. It’s prized for its unique color among winter-hardy roses, showing us that even the coldest climates can support unique shades in the garden!

Topping out at 4 feet, ‘Lauren’ will look great in a mixed border with companion plantings. In contrast to many of the tough cold-climate roses, ‘Lauren’ also offers fragrance! Lean in to enjoy a spicy, clove perfume.

‘Lauren’ is a polyantha rose known for their hardiness and continual bloom power. All around easy to grow, this rose is excellent for beginners!

‘Polestar’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Polstjärnan’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 10’ – 18’
	hardiness zones 2-9

Does your chilly winter garden sometimes feel like the North Pole? ‘Polestar’, sometimes called The White Star of Finland, can handle it!

Hardy down to -50℉, this quick-growing rambler blankets your garden with semi-double, snowy white blooms for 3-4 weeks every summer. Lightly scented and attractive to pollinators, this vigorous rose is an excellent backdrop for brighter annuals.

 ‘Polestar’ thrives in gardens from Scandinavia to Canada, and you’ll never have to rush out in a winter storm to cover it. There’s nothing fragile about this hardy rose. In fact, it has been known to cover an arbor or trellis in one season! Choose ‘Polestar’ if you love worry-free, elegant white roses.

‘Nootka’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Nutkana’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6’-10’
	hardiness zones 3-10

The news is out: We all need to increase biodiversity in our gardens with native plants. While you don’t have to forgo foreign ornamentals entirely, planting natives will provide essential food and habitat for wildlife, conserves water, and prevents the need for chemical maintenance that pollutes our lungs and waterways.

So, if you love roses, what should you do? There are a variety of pretty native roses available. For gardeners with harsh winters, ‘Nootka’ will fit the bill!

‘Nootka’ is native from Northern New Mexico to Alaska. It delights with delicate, light pink blooms appearing in profusion every spring. This cheerful rose has deeper pink centers and eye-catching golden stamens. Perhaps best of all, it has a lovely, strong rose scent.

 ‘Nootka’ spreads into thickets which provide valuable habitat for wildlife. Its free-flowering, informal style will look just right in cottage and pollinator gardens (the bees and butterflies love it, too!). If you like to let it sprawl, this hardy rose is no maintenance at all! Those who prefer to control its size a bit should plan on a good early-spring pruning every year.

‘Morden Sunrise’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Alba Maxima’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 2’ – 3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Now this is a special rose. With the soft yellows, corals, and pinks we admire in the sunrise, this hardy multicolor rose is unique indeed. Yellow roses are generally sensitive, and few are suited to cold climates. If you love warm, cheerful colors but thought this type of rose would never work in your garden, ‘Morden Sunrise’ is a treasure!

Part of the Canadian Parkland series, this rose was bred to withstand the temperature plunges of the far north. Compact in size but robust, ‘Morden Sunrise’ has trusses loaded with up to 15 blooms each.

‘Morden’ boasts a sweet fragrance and is good for cutting. The shrub itself is nicely rounded, making it a tidy addition to your home garden. The contrast of orange buds against the lighter yellow of open blooms makes for a gorgeous sight. This rose is a burst of sunshine after a long winter!

‘Thérèse Bugnet’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Thérèse Bugnet’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 5’ – 7’
	hardiness zones 3-10

If you want to add some romance to the garden, take a look at the frilly pink ‘Thérèse Bugnet’. With old rose fragrance and sweet ruffled blooms, this hybrid rugosa rose is stunning.

‘‘Thérèse’ has a soft and elegant appearance that belies its tough nature. This rose is very low maintenance. It stands up to disease and low winter temps easily. Perfect for a cottage garden, ‘Thérèse’ will spread rapidly via suckers to give you a charming hedge in minimal time.

‘Thérèse Bugnet’ will perfume the garden air and is a focal point in the landscape. She’ll thrive in partial shade with poor soil as well as fertile ground and sun. An award-winning, sure bet for loads of beautiful pink blooms in a wide range of conditions.

‘Arctic Rose’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Acicularis’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun- Part shade
	height 3’-7’
	hardiness zones 2-9

‘Arctic Rose’ is another garden-worthy native. Found growing wild in Canada, Alaska, and the Northern Great Plains, this rose thrives in cold-climate regions. With graceful, 5-petaled blooms in rich pink, this rose will thrill you and pollinators alike.

Once used by Native Americans as an edible, this rose offers a lot of value in the landscape. In spring, you’ll enjoy a show of honey-cinnamon-scented blooms that are a key source of nectar for bees. In fall, the midsize shrub will develop pretty orange hips, high in vitamins A and C to provide forage for wildlife (or you, if you’d like to try rosehip tea!).

‘Arctic Rose’ is often recommended for erosion control and revegetation of land. It will spread into thickets, so this one might be best for large properties. This shrub will tolerate wet or dry conditions and doesn’t mind the shade. An excellent choice for woodland gardens.

‘Emily Carr’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Emily Carr’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

If you have a taste for classic red roses, you might like “Emily Carr’. ‘Emily Carr’ is a head-turner, admired for her deep red tone and waved petals. Abundant double blooms adorn this shrub most of the summer. The fact that ‘Carr’ is so cold-hardy is just icing on the cake!

Bred as part of the Canadian Artist series, this tribute to Canadian author and painter Emily Carr is dependable down to zone 3 and perseveres through the long, cold Northern winters.

‘Emily Carr’ has a nice, upright growing habit and prefers full sun. The flowers are great in the vase, and what they lack in fragrance is made up in their lovely bloom form. Plant ‘Emily’ for a red rose you can depend on!

‘Quadra’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Quadra’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 6’-10’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Another tempting red variety is the old-fashioned bloomed ‘Quadra’. Quadra is a large shrub which can be trained to climb up to 10 feet or pruned to stay compact. Fans of David Austin roses and full blooms will love this rose!

With strawberry-red petals set off by a slightly lighter reverse, Quadra offers nuanced shades of red. Each packed, ruffled bloom opens to an adorable button eye.

‘Quadra’ has a mild, sweet scent and repeat-blooming flowers throughout the season. This rose is fuss-free, with many gardeners saying they pay it no attention at all except to appreciate the blooms! If you’re a lazy gardener (no shame in that), you’ll adore this hands-off rose.

‘Bill Reid’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Bill Reid’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’ – 5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

‘Bill Reid’ is a deep golden yellow edged in slight hues of salmon pink and coral, reminiscent of a watercolor painting. A descendant of ‘Morden Sunrise’ and the ever-popular ‘Golden Celebration’, this rose reflects the best traits of both its parents.

‘Bill Reid’ has a gentle, classic rose perfume and robust bloom power. Each bloom is semi-double, opening to a slightly lighter yellow center. Roses in the yellow family are generally the most delicate, but ‘Bill’ stands up to intense cold and isn’t bothered by disease. For yellow-rose fans, this is a major find!

Part of the Canadian Artist series, ‘Bill Reid’ is a nod to a renowned sculptor. ‘Bill’s’ softly waved petals, and sunset colors will appeal to the artist in all of us! Besides, who can resist a rose named Bill?

‘Mme. Plantier’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Mme. Plantier’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 5’– 12’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Gardeners with harsh winters don’t have to sacrifice beauty and fragrance. Behold the romantic ‘Mme. Plantier’. This alba-noisette hybrid has an intoxicating scent, gorgeous pompon blooms, and a graceful arching habit perfect for trailing over an arbor.

The buds of ‘Mme.’ are light pink and contrast beautifully with the creamy white flowers. This is a vigorous rose, climbing up to 12 feet. Make sure you have adequate space for her! If you prefer a shorter shrub, ‘Mme. Plantier’ responds well to heavy pruning and will grow into an attractive, bushy plant.

Also called ‘The Bride’s Rose’, ‘Mme’ is perfect for a wedding bouquet or a dreamy backdrop for a garden ceremony. You’ll want to cut and enjoy this one inside. Fortunately, the canes are nearly thornless, making collecting for your next arrangement a prickle-free experience! Introduced in 1835, you’ll love this little antique rose in your garden.

‘Champlain’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Champlain’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 3’-4’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Thought about planting red Knock Out roses, but they didn’t quite knock you out? For a beautiful hardy alternative that does all Knock Outs do, consider “Champlain’. This bloom machine is perfect for easy care landscape use.

Smothered in scented scarlet blooms, a long hedge of ‘Champlain’ will look stunning all summer long. Double blooms open to golden stamens and streaks of ivory, giving a lovely cherry pie à la mode effect.

Plant ‘Champlain’ en masse for major impact. Consider pairing it with white daisies or baby’s breath for a gorgeous companion planting. This rose is disease resistant and worry-free. It even has nice winter interest, with pretty red canes rising from the snow. What more can you ask for?

‘Captain Samuel Holland’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Captain Samuel Holland’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 5’ – 7’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Staring out at a blanket of white for months can make you crave some vibrant color! Enter vivid fuschia ‘Captain Samuel Holland’, another rugged rose from the Canadian Explorer series.

This rose is for those who aren’t afraid of color in the garden. Clusters of semi-double magenta blooms will glow in the landscape and also make for nice cut flowers. Trainable as a sprawling shrub or small climber, ‘Captain’ is versatile. Consider allowing it to drape over a hillside or rock wall for a dazzling, informal look.

‘Captain Samuel Holland’s’ open blooms attract butterflies and bees. It is highly resistant to disease, meaning you won’t need any sprays that harm wildlife to keep it blooming. While it appreciates fertile, moist soil, once established, ‘Captain’ is drought tolerant. Chosen for the Chicago Botanical Gardens, this rose will be a showstopper in your landscape, too!

‘Campfire’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Tom Thompson’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3’ – 4’
	hardiness zones 3-10

If one vibrant-colored rose isn’t enough, try ‘Campfire’, an outstanding shrub that shimmers with all the colors of bonfire flames. Named after Tom Thompson’s beautiful painting, ‘Campfire’ wows with blooms in shades of yellow, orange, pink, and red, all on the same shrub (or even the same flower!).

A robust and highly floriferous rose, the color changes of ‘Campfire’ are triggered by temperature and sunlight, making it fun to watch all season. Even better, this rose is resistant to blackspot and hardy down to -40℉.

‘Campfire’ has a nice, rounded shrub habit and will fit in well in a mixed border. Pair it with low-growing perennials in red, pink, yellow, and orange to highlight its fiery colors and stop visitors in their tracks.

‘Prairie Joy’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Prairie Joy’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 5’-8’
	hardiness zones 3-10

I don’t understand why I don’t see this rose more often! ‘Prairie Joy’ is a fully double, bubblegum pink stunner with hardiness that should make it a crowd favorite.

Perfect as a fast-growing hedge or natural screen, ‘Prairie Joy’ is just gorgeous. It produces a heavy flush in early spring, with occasional strong repeat throughout the summer. It’s nearly entirely self-cleaning, carpeting the ground with pink petals.

The blooms of ‘Prairie’ have an attractive cupped form, and the shrub itself has a nice v-shape. Cold-hardy, disease resistant, and sweet-scented, don’t hesitate to plant the cluster flowering “Prairie Joy’. Whether you live in the prairie or the suburbs, it will bring you joy for years to come!

‘Dunwich Rose’

	botanical name Rosa ‘Pimpinellifolia’
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full Sun-Part Shade
	height 1’ – 2’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Blooming prolifically on the sand dunes of England to the wilds of Iceland, Rosa ‘Pimpinellifolia’ is a short groundcover rose with beautiful lemony-cream single flowers.

Part of the ‘Spinosissima” family famed for its spiny canes, even the threat of extra thorns shouldn’t dissuade you from planting this beauty. The ‘Dunwich Rose’ has delicate, fern-like foliage in spring green. It blooms in abundance, with distinct golden stamens that put on a show even after the petals have fallen!

This rose is tolerant of extreme cold, shade, and total neglect. Some gardeners even clean up swathes of ‘Dunwich’ with a powered hedge trimmer! Nothing will stop this pretty pollinator magnet from bouncing back. Stop deadheading in late summer so it can develop its decorative dark maroon hips. This is a must-have for gardeners in cold climates looking for a beautiful, low-maintenance ground cover.