Suggestions for Zone 4b/Fa Roses? Northern Maine, USA

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Hi all. My summer home is up on a ridge, in northern Maine. Zone 4b, now classed as 5a. House is higher up on the ridge, near a state road. Soil is stony/shale Thorndike and the tested pH is between 5.6 to 6.0 - where close to house and barn. I have been amending the soil for about 4 years now, slowing raising the pH around the house, barn, etc. Farm did have animals over 20 years ago, so the soil structure is nice. There will be full sun in the areas where I’d like to create a rose garden with 2 arbors, garden swinging bench and such. I planted a Persian Yellow (1/year bloom, thorny as hell). It has survived with little to no winterization (just leaves and mulch). House has a new buff yellow color, so I’ll have to move the Persian to another spot. lol. I am checking into the Canadian Explorer series and other cold hardy roses. I would prefer Austin looking, repeat bloomers, strong fragrance.

So… those of you in zones 4/5: what roses do well for you?

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Hi Kim, David Austin’s James Galway, The Shepherdess, Queen of Sweden and The Mayflower (She has a sport rose Susan Williams-Ellis that should perform similarly) have all done well here in Orono, ME, zone 5a for years. Am currently trying a very lovely pink, Morden Blush, hardy to zone 3, but this is its first winter. John Davis rose and Seven Sisters roses have both been highly recommended to me as being successful in this climate. Hope for Humanity (red) and Ramblin Red are apparently very hardy. Quadra is a Canadian rose that is extremely cane hardy with little winter dieback, apparently, but I’ve been unable to locate it in the US. I’d recommend High Country roses and the Facebook group Growing Roses in Cold Zones for more ideas!

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Look at Easy Elegance roses. Hybridize for winter survival in Minnesota Zone 4b. Also look at Cherry Frost. Hybrized for Zone 3.

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