Rosa rugosa 'Félix Leclerc' – 'Félix Leclerc' Rose (Canadian Artist Series)

The 'Félix Leclerc' rose is a vigorous variety from the renowned Canadian Artist Series, developed by Agriculture Canada to excel in difficult climates. This shrub pays homage to the famous Canadian singer-songwriter. Despite the diversity of roses in this line, fundamental characteristics like hardiness and disease resistance remain similar, ensuring reliable performance. This versatile rose can be grown as a large, arching shrub or as a superb climber.

Characteristics

• Foliage: It displays deciduous, matte green foliage, with a shape reminiscent of holly leaves. Its robust, arching canes have thorns.
• Flowering: It produces, in successive flushes, an abundant bloom that extends from late spring to late fall. The large (4-inch), double flowers in a brilliant fuchsia-pink are born in clusters and release a light musk fragrance.
• Light: It thrives in full sun but also adapts well to a location in partial shade.
• Habit: It develops a naturally arching and fountaining habit. It can be left to form a large fountaining shrub or its long canes can be trained on a support to be used as a climbing rose.
• Growth: Vigorous. Its size varies greatly depending on how it is grown, reaching 1 to 3 m (3-10 feet) in height and 1 to 2 m (3-6 feet) in spread.
• Moisture: It prefers average moisture conditions.
• Soil: It grows well in rich, well-drained soil.
• Hardiness: Exceptionally hardy, it faces the harsh winters of Zone 3 without any problem.
• Watering: It requires regular watering to keep the soil moist, especially during dry periods.
• Resistance: It possesses excellent resistance to common rose diseases, such as black spot, rust, or powdery mildew.

Uses

• Types of Use: It is the perfect rose to adorn a trellis, pillar, arch, or fence. Left to itself, it forms a large specimen shrub that becomes the focal point of the garden.
• Ornamental Features: Its flushes of bright pink flowers ensure a colourful presence for a very long period. Its arching, graceful habit adds a touch of romance and structure to any landscape design.

Care

• Fertilizing: Apply a slow-release rose fertilizer in early spring to support its generous growth and flowering.
• Pruning: It requires little pruning. In the spring, remove dead wood and one or two old, less productive canes to rejuvenate the plant. You can also prune the top third of the stems that flowered the previous year to encourage new flowering shoots.
• Planting: Plant it in rich soil in full sun or partial shade. Provide a support if you wish to grow it as a climber.