The first Explorer rose, Martin Frobisher, was introduced in 1968. This hardy rugosa, which flowers freely throughout the summer at Ottawa, is vigorous, well proportioned, and grows to a height of 1.5 to 2.0 m with a diameter of 1.5 m. The bark is reddish brown and the upper parts of the branches are spineless. The plant is highly resistant to powdery mildew but may occasionally show some blackspot. Flowers are soft pink and fragrant, measure 5 - 6 cm across, and have an average of 40 petals.
Propagation is by softwood stem cuttings.
Martin Frobisher has been tested at Ottawa since 1962 and at other locations across Canada including the northern United States since 1968. Only minor top kill was observed in Ottawa and other locations, and some spring pruning is required. This plant is hardy in zone 2. This rose cultivar was obtained from an open pollination of the rugosa shrub Schneezwerg. Martin Frobisher S rie Explorateur Le Martin Frobisher, premier rosier de la s rie Explorateur, a t homologu en 1968.