Roses can be successfully grown in cold climates, like our area in Northern Minnesota which is in USDA hardiness zone 3 (very cold winters). Helpful web pages from the Minnesota Rose Society and Gardening Know How provide terrific information on proper selection and care of roses that can survive even brutal winters.
Alternatively, there are roses that grow wild in our area that thrive with very little care. The pictures below are of a wild rose bush moved from our woods to become part of our landscaping. It is most likely a Smooth Wild Rose (Rosa blanda), although it could be either of two very similar species, a Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana) or a Wood’s Wild Rose (Rosa woodsii)
North MN Outdoors 