About Nicolas Potted Rose Bush

Rosa ‘Nicolas’ — Nicolas
🧬 Breeder: Agriculture Canada (Dr. Felicitas Svejda & Dr. Ian Ogilvie)
🌹 A compact, cold-hardy shrub rose from Canada’s legendary Explorer Series.

Nicolas is a remarkably winter-hardy shrub rose, introduced in 1996 after extensive testing in both Ottawa and L’Assomption. With a naturally compact, resilient habit, it reaches about 0.75 meters (30 inches) in height and width and flowers continuously from June through September. Exceptionally floriferous, Nicolas produces clusters of medium-red blooms averaging 6 cm across, each with 18–20 petals. It shows strong resistance to powdery mildew, tolerance to black spot, and survives Zone 3 winters without protection, requiring only light spring pruning. Its dependable performance and easy propagation reflect its carefully developed lineage, combining classic rose genetics with modern hardiness.

💐 Plant & Flower Traits

🌹 Rose Type: Shrub Rose
🎨 Color: Medium red
🌸 Bloom Form: Double, rosette-style blooms borne in clusters
🌼 Bloom Size: Approximately 20 petals
🔁 Flowering Habit: Repeats bloom through the growing season
🌿 Fragrance: Light to mild
🌿 Foliage: Healthy, dark green foliage with good gloss

🏡 Growth & Garden Habits

🌱 Growth Habit: Compact, rounded shrub
↕️ Height: Approximately 2–3 ft
↔️ Width: Approximately 2–3 ft
❄️ Winter Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–8 — exceptionally cold hardy
☀️ Light Requirements: Full sun
🛡️ Disease Resistance: Very good — well suited to low-spray gardens

💛 Why Grace Rose Farm Loves It

Nicolas is proof that hardy roses can still be joyful and beautiful. Its bright red blooms, manageable size, and excellent resilience make it a perfect choice for borders, mass plantings, and smaller gardens — especially in colder climates. This is a rose you can count on, year after year, to show up strong and bloom freely with minimal fuss.

🌿 Growing & Care Recommendations

Planting Site: Full sun with well-drained soil
Spacing: Allow 2–3 ft between plants
Watering: Moderate; drought tolerant once established
Pruning: Minimal — remove dead or winter-damaged wood in spring
Maintenance: Very low-maintenance and beginner-friendly