The Explorer group was created by Agriculture Canada in the 1960s under the direction of breeder Felicitas Svejda. Her goal was to create roses that were hardy, disease-resistant, repeat blooming and easy to propagate from cuttings. They are all named for explorers except for 'J. P. Connell' who was a Deputy Minister of Agriculture in the 1980’s. The cultivars created are listed below. These roses are anywhere from 3 feet to 10 feet tall. Most are shrubs but 'Louis Jolliet' is a climber, Captain Samuel Holland is a pillar shrub with trailing stems and 'Charles Albanel' is appropriate as a groundcover. They are hardy to zone 3A and a few to 2A. These roses prefer full sun and fertile moist well-drained soil. A layer of mulch will help keep weeds in check as well as retain moisture. Fall clean-up is recommended, removing fallen leaves and spent blooms. Pruning can be accomplished at the same time. The flowers are mostly semi-double to double, lightly scented and repeat bloom throughout the season. Colors range from red, pink, peach yellow and white. Leaves are glossy and stems have prickles. Depending on the cultivar, you can use them as a ground cover, on a trellis, as a hedge, as a specimen or in groups. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Extreme resistance to blackspot, mildew and rust. Watch for Japanese beetle, aphids, cane borer, and rose midge. See pests of roses to the left. VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for " Trees, Shrubs and Conifers " a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Rosa .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheRosa Heart 'n' Soul 'ORApaymel'Rosa 'Nevada'Rosa Simplicity Hedge Rose Group
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 6 in. - 10 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Climbing; Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Glossy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Glossy green compound leaves with serrated margins.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Fragrant; Good Cut; Good Dried; Showy
Flower shape
Cup; Saucer
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Semi-double blooms to double flowers in clusters. Blooms in spring and repeat blooms throughout the season. Colors are red, pink, peach yellow and white and most have a mild scent.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Orange
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Most of them produce small rose hips
Stem detail
Green stem with prickles
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
Bees are attracted to the blooms. Birds will eat the rose hips
Attracts
Bees
Play value
Attracts Pollinators
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
Organically grown rose petals are edible as are the hips.