Consulting Rosarian contact: Nancy Lindley - Belleville, MI

For cold climates, try the Canadian Explorer Rose "William Baffin"

My husband, Roger, and I own a small retail nursery in Belleville, Michigan where we specialize in raising winter-hardy, disease-resistant roses. Every year, we have customers come to us and say that no matter how hard they try, they simply can't recreate those beautiful garden arbors draped with festive roses that they see in gardening books. We're quick to point out that, quite often, those books contain photographs of gardens in England or California and the articles recommend roses that flourish in their climates, not ours in Michigan.

To withstand Michigan winters, we recommend the hardy Canadian Explorer rose "William Baffin," or "Billy," as it's affectionately known. This climbing Canadian Explorer can quickly cover an arbor and thrive year after year with a minimum of fuss. Our strongest sales pitch for this rose is as follows: "The William Baffin is so winter-hardy, you can leave it on your trellis all winter long, even if you live north of the Arctic Circle." Now, while we personally have no experience living in such an inhospitable climate - much less trying to grow roses in one - we do know gardeners firsthand who are polar-dwellers and have actually accomplished this remarkable achievement.

While Michigan winters are nothing like Arctic winters, they are certainly cold enough to wreak havoc on many varieties of roses. Yet we experience absolutely no winter die-back with "William Baffin". That's important with climbers since they bloom best on "old wood." In fact, if they were to experience any winter tip-damage, they would never be able to cover an arbor because our growing season is too short.

A little history on the William Baffin rose: "Billy" was introduced by Dr. Felicitas Svejda of Canada in 1983, and it is probably the most famous rose in her Canadian Explorer series. In her breeding program, Dr. Svejda crossed hardy roses from Kordes with more winter-hardy varieties. The result was "William Baffin," "John Cabot," and "Henry Kelsey," - vigorous, long-caned shrubs that can be used as either large shrubs or climbers in northern gardens. Of the three roses from this breeding line, "William Baffin" is without doubt the most vigorous.

"Billy's" loose, strawberry-pink blooms are born in large clusters and set off by glossy, green foliage that is totally resistant to diseases in our garden. This Explorer can tolerate some partial shade; however, it will display its heaviest bloom and best repeat when located in full sun. In fact, "William Baffin" has everything going for it except fragrance. However, that can be more of a blessing than a bane. Why? Because while Japanese beetles are busily devouring the fragrant, pale blooms in our July gardens, they completely ignore the non-fragrant "William Baffin".

Expect "William Baffin" to spend its first year or two in heavy vegetative growth. After that, it will begin to settle down into blooming. Of course, you'll want to prune only lightly during those first few years. Remember, "William Baffin" is a vigorous grower, which means you have two choices: If you want controlled growth on an arbor or arch, you'll want to have your support structure in place before planting. Also, be prepared to train it during the first season by tying and re-tying the rose and by pruning canes growing in undesirable directions. If, on the other hand, you have lots of space, you may want to let Billy "do its own thing." It will become a loosely mounding shrub that stands about 8' tall and 12' wide.

Whichever you choose, you'll be rewarded with a very winter-hardy rose that requires very little fuss or attention, but produces large masses of delightful dark-pink blooms year after year.

Nancy Lindley and her husband Roger own Great Lakes Roses, a small own-root rose nursery, in Belleville, Michigan. They specialize in winter-hardy, easy-care roses.

Photo of William Baffin by John Woodworth