Rose rootstocks may surprise you

Have you ever bought a hybrid tea rose and over winter it died back, but in spring it has totally new canes sprouting from the base, and the flower isn’t what you purchased last year? Mostly all roses are grafted onto hardy rootstock. The only exceptions are all miniature roses, and most landscape roses are on their own roots. Some of the landscape roses are shrub roses, groundcover and knock out roses that have their own roots and are not grafted. They are often rugged and heavy bloomers. Here are some examples:

— Lemon drift — groundcover.

— Peach drift — groundcover.

— Easy on the Eyes — shrub.

— Peppermint pop — shrub.

— Hope for Humanity — shrub.

— Double Knock Out Rose — shrub.

The most common and widely used rootstock is Dr. Huey. Initially in 1914, the rose Dr. Huey was bred by Captain George C. Thomas. Bobbink & Atkins introduced the rose in 1920. Once a dark red hybrid wichurana climbing rose, today it is used as a rootstock. Dr. Huey rootstock is very heat tolerant. It is good for the Midwest and Northeast. However, it will need winter protection.

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