Canyon Road Rose Gone Wild? - Ask Extension
It’s a shrub type from Star Roses, planted May, 2019, partial sun, about 36” tall, with one central shoot near the center of the plant about 6” ...
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Canyon Road Rose Gone Wild? #629005
Asked April 29, 2020, 4:20 PM EDT
It’s a shrub type from Star Roses, planted May, 2019, partial sun, about 36” tall, with one central shoot near the center of the plant about 6” taller, very prominent. No buds anywhere yet. Though the plant has leafed out with typical 5-leaflet branches, the shoot in question is more reddish and leaves have 7 leaflets. The plant carried its leaves through the entire winter in Happy Valley with some black spot on lower branches. It was gorgeous throughout the season in 2019. Two questions:
Is this a shoot from the understock of a grafted rose?
What should we do now?
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. There are reasons to explain this type of growth. One is a a virus called rose rosette (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/rose-rosa-spp-hybrids-virus-diseases). The other is a natural pattern of red coloration and compaction of new growth. (In fact, several garden sources advertise this variety’s new growth as being red.) I would suggest you just let it be, and see if it becomes green with heat, sun, and some time release fertilizer or compost near (but not touching) the plant.
As you said, coloration differences also occur due to differences in root and scion stock, and the label that came with the plant may have (had) that information. Good luck!
Here are some photos taken two weeks later. The shoot in question has 7 leaflet foliage, and 5 leaflet foliage closer to the top, still red.
Rose rosette?
Rose rosette?
No. Normal growth.
Great! Take the rest of the day off.
Thank you! You, too!
