Rudolf Geschwind lived in Austria near the end of the ninteenth century. He admired the work of French breeders, but he also realized that too many of the remontant roses they bred were not frost-hardy in the regions near where he lived. Winters there commonly reached the icy temperatures found in western Skandinavia, USDA zones 4 or 5. He crossed tender French hybrids with R. setigera and R. multiflora.
The roses he released tend to be very cold hardy, disease resistant, and vigorous. Many are quite free with their flowers, and make a great garden impact in bloom. Gardeners who crave fragrance in roses and those who live in long-summer season areas who must have remontant roses will be disappointed in many of his offerings, because few repeat and few are fragrant.
Interest in these roses, though, is increasing as gardeners in USDA zones 4 and 5 in Canada and the US rediscover the joys of growing roses.
| Cultivar | Class | Color | Fragrance | Breeder | Hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Large Flower Climber | Pink | Moderate | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |
Hybrid Perpetual | Pale Pink | Strong | Geschwind | Zone 6 | |
Large Flower Climber | Pink | Strong | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |
Hybrid Perpetual | Pink | None | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |
Hybrid Setigera | Crimson | Strong | Geschwind | Zone 4 | |
Large Flower Climber | Pink | None | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |
Bourbon | Cerise | Strong | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |
Rambler | Pink | None | Geschwind | Zone 3 | |
Cluster Flower Climber | Cerise | None | Geschwind | Zone 4 | |
Shrub | Pale Pink | None | Geschwind | Zone 3 | |
Bourbon | Crimson | Powerful | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |
Hybrid Setigera | Cerise | None | Geschwind | Zone 4 | |
Cluster Flower Climber | Crimson | Strong | Geschwind | Zone 4 | |
Hybrid Perpetual | White | Strong | Geschwind | Zone 4 | |
Polyantha | Rose | Mild | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |
Hybrid Setigera | Rose | Mild | Geschwind | Zone 5 | |