Flower color ranges from dark pink to reddish-purple, sometimes with streaks of white, and the colour fades as blooms age.

Its symmetrical, robust form, coupled with its long blooming season and excellent disease resistance, make it one of the most important new roses for northern gardens."

With no prior knowledge of roses, Svejvda developed a successful rose-breeding program at the Central Experimental Farm (CEF) in Ottawa.

The cultivar is the first of the Explorer Roses series that Svejda developed to withstand the harsh Canadian winters and thrive in its short growing season.

The rose variety was named in honour of John Cabot (1450–1500), an Italian navigator who first explored the Northwest Passage.