I would love to find some tough floribundas myself. Have yet to find any that don't die back almost all the way. I do find the canadian explorers and parklands to be very winter hardy, and some blooms are quite lovely. Morden Blush is a great pale pink, never dies back and blooms are very double. I also find that the fairy polyantha is a tough rose, blooms heavily, winters over very well and usually is not too bothered by insects. But I do miss my angel face floribundas, they are my favorites and I have yet to find a canadian rose in that shade. Most canadians don't seem to have much fragrance either. Of course, you could use rugosas if you want hardiness and fragrance. My Belle Poitevine is a good 5 ft tall and wide, covered in very fragrant blooms and I do nothing at all for it. Can't cut them for bouquets, but you could float a few blooms in a bowl. Have you tried any of the double knockouts? I haven't myself, but they look pretty nice.

I will second the Rugosa's. I especially like Terese Bugnet.

Eutin is a bright cherry red floribunda that is hardy to Zone 4. However, its bloom isn't typical floribunda--its smaller blooms flower in large clusters that are quite showy.

Another very hardy rose is Earth Song (pink)--which technically is a grandiflora, but it grows and blooms more like a cross between a floribunda and a shrub. Very tough rose and a good bloomer.

This spring I planted a rugosa called Fru Dagmar Hastrup--lovely light pink bloom. Of course, the plant is still small, but I love those crinkly rugosa leaves, and she should grow at least 3 ft tall, if not taller. There is also a nice lemon yellow Fru Dagmar Hastrup, also known, I believe, as Topaz Jewel. It is very nice also. Like other rugosa, these are very hardy and would grow well in your zone.

You do know about helpmefind.com , don't you? Has photos and all sorts of info on just about every rose in existence.

Kate

I have seen Lichterlow growing in Zone 5. I have Cinnabar and Hobby. Cinnabar is still in a pot, and Hobby is a year old. Hobby is a blooming fool, but so far doesn't grow very big.

Some of DAs short roses can be grown in zone 5, The Prince, Mary Rose and sports. St. Cecelia is reportedly hardy to zone 4.

You might try having some kind of shelter on north and west of your rose bed. West seems to be important because of RRD. Where I live, R. multiflora is growing in empty lots and fields everywhere. Very pretty, but watch out for the witches broom.

Thanks for the tips. After my research I determined rugosas would not be a good option as the the area is by my pond and this rose has to stay relatively polite. I went shopping on Saturday and came across Easy Does It. I'm a sucker for orange roses and once I got home I did more research and much to my pleasant surprise, this rose is very highly rated. I had a gift certificate to burn so all the better. So I gave it a home and will see what happens. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Nancy, another floribunda you should have is Julia Child. It's bright, cheery yellow and fades to a softer yellow, giving it a 2-tone look. It has been very hardy in my garden and relatively disease resistant (I don't spray - too lazy, LOL). It stays short and mannerly (2 to 3 feet max). I bet it would look good with your new Easy Does It. I just got that one this year, too!