Hybrid Kordesii 'John Cabot': Canada's Red Climbing Explorer

Another star of the Explorer Series, 'John Cabot' (Explorer Series Collection) was introduced in 1969 by Dr. Felicitas Svejda. Named for the Venetian explorer who claimed Newfoundland for England in 1497, this hybrid kordesii climber brings reliable red blooms and extreme hardiness to northern gardens.

Botanical Profile

The flowers are a clear, medium red, semi-double, and lightly fragrant, borne in large clusters on flexible canes that reach 8-10 feet. The foliage is glossy, dark green, and highly disease-resistant. As a hybrid kordesii, 'John Cabot' combines the hardiness of Rosa kordesii with the climbing habit and repeat bloom of its modern ancestors. It blooms heavily in June, then repeats through summer—rare for a hardy climber. For Canadian gardeners and anyone in Zone 3 or colder, 'John Cabot' is a revelation: a red climbing rose that doesn't just survive winter, but greets spring with vigor and flowers.