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What is eating my Persian Yellow rose bush (rosa foetida persiana)? #762632
Asked July 19, 2021, 4:18 PM EDT
Weld County Colorado
Expert Response
Hi Weld County,
Question #0032563 has been assigned to you by CSU E.
What is eating my Persian Yellow rose bush (rosa foetida persiana)?
I bought this bush in 2019 from the Tree Farm Nursery and Garden Center in Longmont. At the time I planted it, it did not have many roses. Then in June of both 2020 and June of 2021 it bloomed copiously, but something got to it almost immediately. See before and after pictures. I thought I had narrowed it down to being Japanese beetles so in early June of 2021 and hung up a Japanese beetle trap. It did not do any good and there were no insects in the trap. I also sprayed the plant this past May with a Safer Insect Killing Soap - which contains bacillus thuringiensis. I maybe sprayed too late and also the bush is very dense and thorny so it is hard to reach everywhere. Can you tell me what might be going on? It is now putting out lots of green new branches and a few new flowers that seem unaffected by pests. We live in Firestone, Coloraco. reneeFrom: renee72buzz
Submitted: 07/19/2021 4:18 PM
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Your roses are gorgeous! The buds and yellow flowers look very healthy, as do the new leaves.
There are different kinds of roses. Some bloom have a flush of blooms in June, rest for the hot summer months and then have another flush of flowers in September. Other roses flower all season long. After roses bloom, the petals dry and rose “hips” containing the seeds begin to swell.
According to the American Rose Society, your Persian Rose blooms just once each season. It is hardy to an elevation of 8,000 feet and is hardy to zone 3 (You are in milder USDA growing zone 5.) It was originally discovered in about 1837 in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains of Easter Europe; this was a very exciting find because your rose had a licorice fragrance when most European roses did not smell at all. Your Persian rose grows so well there that it’s considered a WEED and farmers burn their barley fields to get rid of these roses! You have chosen a very hardy plant.
Your plants look very vigorous. From the excellent photos you sent, I do not see the type of damage that is consistent with a Japanese Beetle infestation. See: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/japanese-beetle-5-601/ There is no need to treat your rose to get rid of Japanese Beetles.
Japanese beetle traps attract beetles, which will then begin to attack and destroy your trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables. Please reconsider your use of Japanese Beetle traps!
Here is some general information for you about roses: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/selecting-and-planting-roses-7-404/
Enjoy your roses! If you have further gardening questions or concerns, please contact us again.
Sue
Weld County Colorado Master Gardener
