I planted a white climbing rose bush about three years ago...first two years it had beautiful white fragrant flowers. Last year I had about 1/3 of the...
Knowledgebase
Climbing rose bush #318062
Asked May 02, 2016, 10:40 AM EDT
I planted a white climbing rose bush about three years ago...first two years it had beautiful white fragrant flowers. Last year I had about 1/3 of the flowers...this year I have three blooms with more to come...BUT...they are not roses?! They are blooms on the end of the stem that remind me of babies breath...there's another flower that it resembles better, don't know the name of it tho...I was shocked, the bush itself is gorgeous and the flowers pretty, but I want my roses. Do you know why?
Kootenai CountyIdaho
Expert Response
Is it possible to send us some photos of the bush or the flowers that you are seeing? More information would be helpful.
These pictures certainly help but I'm afraid that's not a climbing rose bush. It appears to be an elderberry, most likely Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea, the blue elderberry, a native shrub. You'll know for certain in a few months when the berries form. Blue elderberries are a common shrub/small tree in your area so this may be a accidental transplant from seed dropped by birds, squirrels, or bears on their way through.
Thank for your response...but I am very confused...I bought this from a reputable place from their climbing rose bush section and definitely it bloomed white fragrant roses for three years, last year yielded the least...they were gorgeous...I checked to see if there was another separate bush...and there is only the one I planted...sending some pictures from a different angle.
I just sent you another post with more pics. Hope you get it and this extra comment doesn't delete it...after sending I noticed from the pics. There were no thorns...so I went out to check...and there are no thorns....every year I trimmed this there were thorns....can a plant change...I know what I planted and know what bloomed...and this is really strange.
Hey Dave, I really do appreciate your help in this...I am just so dog gone puzzled...I don't mind that it's an elderberry...wasn't expected. I'll have to take a picture tomorrow if I have time in a.m. Having cataract surgery, otherwise next day. I planted arborvitae on the other side of lattice...again thank you for your help.
