I was told that only ‘Sitka’ or rugosa roses would grow up here in southcentral Alaska. Wrong! I’m not one to listen when someone tells me, “You can’t do that!” so decided to experiment. I’ve had many floribundas return and shrub roses were bred to be tough. I’ve lost many roses over the years, I figure that each rose plant I own is worth about a hundred bucks because of the ones I bought and lost over the years, but hopefully my experience will be a boon to anyone else in a cold climate that receives lots of snow.

~Keeping them covered in snow all winter long is the secret. Freeze thaw cycles kill roses and many other plants. If you don’t have snow, find another good mulch.