About The Consortium
Who are the Canadian Artists Rose Consortium and why do they exist?
At its very beginning, the Canadian Artists Rose Consortium was born out of a vision for the defunct Agriculture Canada rose breeding program. The bank of more than 15,000 rose cells in Agriculture Canada's plant vault was too important a collection to be set aside. The Consortium has since been driven by a series of successes in providing Canadian gardeners with the best choice of tough roses for our diverse climatic conditions, beginning with the introductions of 'Emily Carr' and 'Felix Leclerc'.
Of the original 14 members in 1998, a few have left to be replaced by other investors and growers. Two preeminent breeders launched the Consortium; Dr. Claude Richer-Leclerc and Dr. Campbell Davidson, both of whom were active breeders in the development of the Explorer and Parkland roses. Both are committed to developing the best roses Canada and the world is yet to witness. After a second launch in 2001, more growers got on board and have finessed the plants presented to the Canadian public. In the fall of 2007, two exciting new roses were released, able to grow right across our country, and even more are to come. Look for upcoming introductions of hardy roses with yellows, apricots and a bi-color.
If you ask the members about the Consortium's Mission Statement, you'll get a committed answer.
"We need to keep the hardy rose breeding program alive at both the Morden and St-Jean Research Stations. Canada is a small market, mostly in hardiness zones 2 through 6. The genetic lines of the roses grown for our conditions cannot be found anywhere else in the world other than right here, in Canada. We need hardy roses for our climates and conditions."
Why then would growers and breeders alike want to be a part of this group?
"It would be a shame to lose the Canadian treasure found in the hardy rose collection of Ag Canada. We're in this to make sure that Canadian gardeners are offered the best rose choices available to them."
For years, Canadian-bred roses have been known for their toughness and refinement. These are two descriptive adjectives that somehow feel like you're sucking on a lemon, but they are more like a lemon meringue pie; the lightness of the top layer sweetens the tanginess of the main body held by the solid crust.
This holds true for these newly bred roses. They have a strong root system, clean foliage, excellent disease resistance and strong blooming power. They represent the best of the best with a plus - you can grow them right across Canada!
Click below to visit the websites of key Consortium members;