The Marigold Potager – A Zone 3 Prairie Garden

Having recently moved from a zone 7, where I could grow every rose I wanted, to a zone 3, I have been looking for amazing roses that I can grow and love. The loving bit is the hardest after you have been spoiled for choice.

Here, in no particular order, are my favourite picks for the best roses in a zone 3 garden.

1. Chinook Sunrise Rose

I have two of these in my garden. This first year, they are low growing and flower continuously. A peach coloured rose that fades to a pale pink so it has several shades of flowers on it at any given time.

The ‘Chinook Sunrise’ rose is an award-winning introduction from Vineland’s 49th Parallel Collection, designed for Canadian gardeners. This shrub captures the beauty of a sunrise with its warm, changing flower colours. It combines abundant flowering and excellent hardiness with simple care, making it a choice addition to any landscape.

Height: 4 to 5 feet Width: 4 feet.

2. Olds College Rose

This double peachy pink rose is a hardy beauty.

Olds College Rose was named after the 100th anniversary of Olds College, Alberta. It has beautiful peach coloured, double flowers from June to September. This hardy rose was developed by Morden Research and Development Centre in Manitoba.

Height: 2 to 3 feet Width: 3 feet

3. Morden Blush

I love this pale pink rose.

The blooms of Morden Blush resemble tea roses, beginning with clusters of pink buds and transition into soft pink and ivory double flowers. Bloom time is from late spring to late summer; often late into fall. Morden Blush makes a beautiful cut flower and reminds you of roses in a Victorian cottage scene. The foliage is glossy green, turning yellow in fall. Orangey – red hips form from mid to late fall.

Height: 3 feet Width: 3 feet

4. John Davis

I love this super hardy, double, pink blooming climber. I have 3 of them (yep, 3!) as I love them that much. They are super hardy, bloom for a good portion of the summer, are just lovely. Some say that they have a mild scent, but I have not really noticed one.

The most beautiful of the hardy Canadian Roses, this wonderful climber boasts double, sometimes quartered, old-fashioned blooms of rich candy-pink opening to show golden centers. John Davis is an outstanding rose in cold climates but can also be grown in warm climates.

Height: 10 feet Width: 7 feet

5. John Cabot

The one in the picture is mine, it is just a year old. Was planted last year. It is already beautiful. I have, again, not noticed much of any scent, but I love the look of this climbing rose and fully expect that it will soon be clambering onto the roof of the shed.

It blooms with semi-double, fragrant, cherry-pink to deep red flowers that can appear from early summer through fall, offering a vibrant splash of colour. This hardy climber is known for its resilience and disease resistance, making it a fantastic choice for Canadian gardens. Growing up to 10 feet, it works well on trellises or fences, creating a stunning vertical display that also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Height: 10+ feet Width: 4 to 6 feet

Other roses of note that I love…

• Purple Pavement – this lovely shrub rose gets huge and smells so very good. It is very hardy. The only reason it is not in the top five, is because it only blooms the once and then is done for the season. It may put out a few blooms in late summer, but basically is a one and done. If you are making a hedgerow, this would be a lovely addition. It makes the prettiest orange hips in fall.
• Blanc Double De Coupbert – a pale blush pink/white rose that has the most heavenly scent. It is not in the top 5 as not everyone loves the thorns on it. It is very prickly. I love this rose and have put it in my hedge. It blooms all summer long and makes lovely orange hips in fall. Love this rose.
• Therese Bugnet – So hardy, so reliable. Blooms all summer long.

On my list to get…  Above And Beyond Climbing Rose

A new First Editions®, cold-hardy, climbing rose that has exploded in popularity because of its vigour, gorgeous apricot coloured blooms, and ability to thrive even in Zone 3 regions! Orange buds open in prolific clusters of five or more, semi-double to double, 8cm (3 – 3½”) flowers with a pleasant, but mild fragrance. Although the main show is in June, it reblooms sporadically throughout the summer. Above and Beyond™ can be used as a large, free-standing shrub, but will climb over a fence or trellis up to 3 – 4m (10-14′). It is very resistant to fungal diseases.

You can also grow mini roses in pots during the summer and then move them over to the garden in late summer. Mulch up after a few good frosts and they will come back nicely for quite a few years after. Any mini rose from the grocery store will work : )

Minis mean that they stay short and compact, will not get tall, but they have lovely big blossoms on them.

These are some of the very best roses that you can grow in your zone 3 garden.

They will bloom prolifically, they are pretty, and they are hardy ~ Tanja