Cziga,

REINE DES VIOLETTES is definately hardy in zone 5. I once knew a rosarian who grew this rose successfully in USDA Zone 4 (Minnesota) and reported no winter dieback. He also noted that it was completely clean of disease, which leads to me to think that this rose does better in a cooler climate. I usually prefer ownroot but if you are looking for grafted then you might want to try the David Austin people. I have two Reine des Violettes; one own root and another grafted from DA. The grafted RdV has been a rose on steriods and has yet to show any signs of RMV. I tried to find a Canadian website but couldn't. They do send catalogs to Canada so you might want to consider sending them a request.

A few things that I've noticed about this cultivar:

1. Color is highly variable. Buds are usually rich pink then turn purple as the blooms open and mature. I've found that iron depleated soil produces flowers that are primarily pink. Adding chelated iron solves the problem and deepens the flower color.

2. My grafted RdV didn't start repeating until her third year. The own root specimen is smaller but started to repeat the second year.

3. RdV is shade tolerant but at the sacrifice of remontancy.

4. Grafted, this rose is a monster in zone 6b. Folks in warmer climates are better off with an own root specimen, which is slower growing and easier to keep contained with pruning.

5. Although eligible for the Dowager Queen (it was hybridized in 1860) in ARS rose shows, the petals quickly drop once the bloom reaches maturity. If you wish to use it as a vase flower then I recommend cutting the blooms while in tight bud (with the sepals down) or just after the bud "cracks".

6. REINE DES VIOLETTES is definately the most disease resistant mauve/purple rose that I've ever grown. In fact, it is one of the last roses to show black spot in my garden. Here in black spot hell, clean foliage is easily maintained with spraying Mancozeb once-a-month from June onwards.

7. The plant is thornless and the foliage is nearly as fragrant as the flowers. I find it impossible to work around the rose without reaching out and touching. The fragrance is classic rose with a definate spicy (i.e. peppery) aftertaste, very similar to the Gallica roses.

Here is another one of Randy's luscious pics.
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