The Best Cold-Hardy Rose Bush for Cutting

Roses for cutting should have long stems and large flowers.

The best roses for cutting have large flowers and long stems with relatively few thorns. Hybrid tea roses are ideal for cutting, but often lack the cold hardiness to survive in areas with subfreezing winter temperatures. Some roses combine hardiness with good cut-flower qualities.

Testing

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum has conducted extensive trials to test the cold-hardiness of various rose varieties. The most cold-tolerant types were rugosa hybrids, which have beautiful, spicy-scented flowers and relatively long stems, but the stems are covered with extremely dense thorns, making them less desirable for cutting.

Cutting Varieties

Among the best varieties for hardiness and cut-flower qualities are John Davis, a pink-flowered shrub rose, hardy to USDA Zone 2b; 'Golden Wings,' a yellow-flowered shrub, which produces large, long-stemmed flowers and is hardy to Zone 4; and 'Applejack,' another pink rose, hardy to Zone 4b. All bloom repeatedly.

Hardy Roses

To find the best cold-hardy cutting garden roses for your area, consult your county extension agent. Buy "own root" rather than grafted varieties, as the former will grow back true to variety, even if the canes are severely damaged by cold winter weather.

References

• Help Me Find Roses: 'Golden Wings'
• Help Me Find Roses: 'John Davis'
• Help Me Find Roses: 'Applejack'
• University of Minnesota Extension: Roses for the North: Cold Hardiness