An offshoot of the chrysanthemum breeding project in the 1940s, roses were some of the earliest woody landscape plant cultivars released from the University of Minnesota. The first directed breeding work on woody landscape plants can be dated to 1942 when Dr. Louis E. Longley, who started the chrysanthemum breeding project, began making some crabapple and rose crosses.
Four super-hardy shrub roses—known as Northern Accents® Sven, Ole, Lena, and Sigrid—grow to more than three feet tall, covered in a profusion of clustered blooms all season. In Grand Rapids they survived a winter with a low temperature of -47°F. With consistent snow cover, they need no special winter care. They are resilient and environmentally gentle as well.
University of Minnesota Rose Varieties
Northern Accents® Lena
- Pink and white
- Hardy shrub with frilly five-petal flowers
- 3-4' plant size
- Released in 2008
Northern Accents® Ole
- Ivory to pale pink
- Hardy shrub rose with double petals
- 3-4' plant size
- Released in 2008
Northern Accents® Sven
- Pink to pale violet
- Hardy shrub rose with fragrant double flowers
- 3-4' plant size
- Released in 2008
Northern Accents® Sigrid
- Deep pink to red
- Hardy shrub rose with fragrant flowers
- 3-4' plant size
- Released in 2012
Summer Waltz
- Medium pink
- Double cupped frilly 3.5 inch blooms with light fragrance
- 4-4.5' plant size
- Released in 2012
Prairie Fire
- Bright red
- Shrub, single blooms
- 4-6' plant size
- Released in 1959
Viking Queen
- Pink
- Large, fragrant climber with double blossoms and glossy foliage
- 8-10' plant size
- Released in 1963
Northern Accents® is a registered trademark of the University of Minnesota.
