I have an arbor with a New Dawn, which dies back constantly despite winter protection. I was wondering if any of these three will work.

Has anyone grown Antique 89, Altissimo or Aloha in Zone 4?

Are they cane hardy?

Are they real climbers or pillar roses?

Thanks,

Bob

Why don't you go Exploring?

I was under the impression that Antique 89 was hardy to zone 4.

I was less shore of Aloha & Altissimo.

I have to admit, I am less enthused by the explorer roses, as they have more a pillar habit than climbing.

Well, we can't have it all, I guess :)

Aloha and Antique will suffer significant die-back in zone 4 in average winters, but are usually vigorous enough to grow back and bloom well. Antique is larger and more vigorous than Aloha, which would be a short climber/pillar roses. Location in the garden,(micro-climate) can also play a big part in the amount of die-back you experience.

Explorers and some other deriviatives are really your best bet if you want the traditional climber look with next to no dieback in your zone.

As for location, I live in Montreal, Canada. The garden is fenced. During winter, part of the arbor is under snow, up to 4 feet. (The arbor is 8 feet high and 2 feet wide). But, I don't think the arbor is in a micro climate, as the New Dawn, suffers. After 4 year, I have managed to save only one branch, which is around 4 feet tall. When we get our extreme wind chill warnings, I shiver when I see the poor thing out of the window with it’s miserable winter parka.

From what you and MG say, I am stuck with explorer roses.
What about :
City of York
Ilse Krohn Superior
Seagull
Viking Queen
or Rosarium Uetersen

Will they have major dieback?

Also, in the explorers, which one do you recommend between, Quadra and Henry Kelsey.
I suppose, what I prefer most (besides fragrance, which I can’t have) is repeat. Which one does repeat best?

Thanks a lot,

Bob

Here, Henry Kelsey gets blackspot, so Quadra is a much better choice. Given adequate water, Quadra reblooms quite well.

Mad gallica, for a climber my preference is hardiness, strong fragrance and repeat bloom, respectively.

I know what you mean by Baltimore Belle not being hardy. I have a MidNight Owl, which I grow as a shrub. But the flowers are beautiful and fragrant.

For the time being, I am inclined towards Quadra.

I've heard a lot about Viking Queen, will that work here or is it like New Dawn, hardiness wise?
The reason being, I�ve heard but not seen, some zone 4 gardeners in my region growing it successfully.

What are your thoughts on that?

If you can't easily find hardiness in the parentage, it isn't there. The problem you are going to find with almost all of the 'normal' 'hardy' climbers is that New Dawn is the source of the hardiness. If you can't grow that, it automatically rules out a lot.

I'd be surprised if Baltimore Belle isn't hardy for you. True the coldest mine has seen is -15F, but the Feast setigera hybrids are NOT wimps.

Thanks so much for your input. Basically what you say is get something, which is sure to work, and not something which "might" work. I hear you.

I buy my roses at Pickering. The list of alternative roses was inspired from their site.
They don't have Baltimore Belle.

I suspect, if I had a sunny protected place close to the house, I could have tried Viking Queen/ Baltimore Belle.

The New Dawn has seen -22 F/ -31 F windchill. I'm amazed that it has survived. If it would have been against a fence, it would have been better off, as we get adequate snow cover here. But where it is now, in the middle of a pathway, it's hard to protect it, as one side is exposed.

That's why I'll move it and get a Quadra. This way, I won't have to worry during winters. I'm sort of tired of trying to get a climber to grow some place I can't or if it is too much of a hassle.

The coastal area of Vancouver Island (Victoria) is the most temperate region in Canada, USDA Zone 7 or 8.
I'm afraid, the rose you mentioned, won't be suitable for zone 4 as a climber.

Thanks anyway.