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Norine Kuhn, June 2, 2005 I have a question. The property line of our home is lined with pink rose bushes. They have been there for many years and have always been pink. This year when the bushes bloomed, the one closest to the street was 1/2 pink and 1/2 red while all of the other ones were still pink. It is beautiful to see both vibrant colors on one rose bush but we want to know why this has happened. Do you have any answers? |
| 6/3/05 It may be that some of these plants are grafted with a rootstock that is different than the ornamental plant above. If that is the case, then the color can be explained if one or more of the ornamental plants died and the rootstock grew, or the root stock has sent up its own canes - termed suckering. A red rootstock is Dr. Huey and it is fairly common to see Dr. Huey growing throughout New England. Dr. Huey is a red once-blooming climbing rose with single petal blooms. To check this idea go to http://www.helpmefind.com/rose/pl.php?n=1550 for a photo and description of Dr. Huey.
Jerry Cinnamon |
| 6/3/05 Hello Norine, It is not terribly unusual for roses to produce what is called a "sport". I have a David Austin rose named "Dark Lady", and one branch of the very deep pink bush is light pink. The blooms are identical, but a different color. I love this bush! I don't know if it is a usual occurance for this to happen in older roses, I believe my Dark Lady developed it's sport in it's first season. I have been told you can even register this sport, name it and all. I hope this helps you.
Joan Gotlibson |
