Any suggestions for a zone 4 shrub rose that will repeat, smell nice, have no thorns and resist Japanese beetles?

Iceburg is one of my favorites.

How about something that attracts other insects that prey on the Japanese beetles? I’m not too familiar with roses, but if any of them do that, it would probably help all your plants.

@Dog Great to see you!

See if this gives you any ideas:

http://www.northerngardening.com/shrubroses.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg6750.html

@bkcunningham: Terrific resources…thank you. Not only do they list and describe the excellent roses but they list the ones that don’t do well. I have been suckered over the years into buying many roses that sounded wonderful but turned out to be losers.

(Sometimes I thought it would be more efficient to skip the middle man and simply plant money.)

@Dog. The iceberg is hardy only to zone 5 so that’s no good, even though it sounds lovely. (Nice to have you back.)

The second link is from the extension agency. I think this is one very good, not perfect, but a wonderful thing that our tax monies goes for. Great resource. I wish more people used these guys. They are in every state and work in conjuntion with a land grant university. I recommend them for all of your gardening questions. Every extension agent I’ve ever known, and I’ve known many, are more than happy to help you with any and all gardening or horticulture questions.

@bkcunningham: Now that you mention it, we have a Cornell extension agency just down the pike. I have actually dropped weird insects in their drop box for ID’s the next day. And I have had many phone chats about deer-proofing a garden.

I bet that they have terrific resources.

@Incendiary Dan: No such symbiosis, unfortunately. Japanese beetles are not the only lovers of fragrant and beautifully colored rose petals.

Oh, yes, @gailcalled. They would be. Have they been wonderful with your other questions like the deer-proofing and insect identifying? I always loved my “Hank Kimballs.”

@They were wonderful re; the insects but just as stymied as I (and every other gardener around here) about the deer.

I cannot find any Hank Kimball rose references anywhere. (But I did discover a Rose Kimball on one of the genealogy sites.)

Oh, I’m sorry. Hank Kimball was the bumbling extension agent on the old sitcom Green Acres with Eddie Albert and Ava Gabor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZtL7sSZqhs&feature=related

@bkcunningham: We didn’t have a TV for much of my years at home or my early married years. I was too busy with a husband, job, kids, two homes and my beauty routines.

Thanks for the link. I do remember both Eddie Albert and all the Gabor sisters.

what do you mean when you say your Graham Thomas does not over winter? Beetles are atracted to yellow and white roses because of the ultra violet light those colors give off. Also compost heaps in the garden or near by ones are breeding grounds for beetles..