explorer roses, best hips, least invasive roots

by June Siple
(Missoula, Montana)

Hi Doug,
I'm looking for a rose with good-tasting, prolific fall hips. Also prefer a low-suckering plant, one that tolerates maple roots and dry conditions alternating with overhead watering. Do any of the explorer roses qualify? How's David Thompson? He actually came near here (Missoula, Montana) in 1812, so it would be neat rose to plant. Would any of the climbers (as opposed to a bush habit) explorer types do well in those conditions? Can you recommend a supplier for Western Montana? Thanks, June Siple

Doug says that many of the taller Explorers have rugosa blood in them so they do tend to have good hips. As I recall, 'Henry Hudson' is both a repeat bloomer (rugosa heritage) and has decent hip production. It never ran in my garden but it wasn't in a bad place if it did. A tough rose - it grew to around 5'tall and wide but wasn't at all invasive. Decent fragrance (again if memory serves me). Tough as nails re temperatures and full (and I mean) full of thorns. You prune this with long-sleeve gloves (or just cut it to the ground every few years).

The taller climbing plants do not (again as I recall from my tender memory) produce quite as heavy a bloom (most are single flush bloomers) or rose hips.

However, no rose is going to give you great growing (no plant - not exclusively roses) when it has to compete with a maple tree for root space, water and possibly sunlight. Just not a great place for any plant. So if you allow an everblooming rose to go into drought conditions, the first casualty will be flower production. It's tough enough to "live" in these conditions but no rose is going to "thrive".

Suppliers - I do not have resources for local suppliers (it's a big Net out there) but the Antique Rose Emporium will easily ship most of these hardy types right across the US. Google it for the link.

Hope that helps.

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