Re: A Rose Question

Anne Williams wrote:

> Earlier this summer a volunteer from Descanso Gardens' International
> Rosarium came to my garden to take cuttings of Climbing Dainty Bess and
> Climbing Old Blush, neither of which grows in the Rosarium at present
> and both would be suitable additions plus it was hoped to get enough
> viable cuttings to propagate plants for sale next year at our Spring
> Plant Sale.  Most of the Dainty Bess cuttings took and are doing well,
> the Old Blush were less successful, only a few survived, but we're going
> to try to take more during September and see if the fall cuttings are
> stronger.

> The question is this:  Knowing that both these plants are sports of
> shrub roses, can we be guaranteed that the plants we grow from these
> cuttings will be the climbing form, and not revert to shrub?

Anne,

If the cuttings came from a climbing growth or a blossoming lateral off a
climbing cane, the new plants will be climbers.  In the rare chance (one out
of millions) that there was a reversion on the parent plant, it would have
showed up in its growth.  So if you want climbers, careful cutting selection
is important.  But this is true of all roses.  Some great varieties (like
'Peace' for instance) have been ruined because growers have tried to use all
available wood for propagation instead of taking wood only from growths with
good flower form.  An otherwise insignificant mutation can be multiplied
exponentially with indiscriminate propagation.

You did not indicate whether the cuttings were placed in a mister.  An
outdoor mister in full sun with even bottom heat (even in summer's heat)
generally produces the best results.  This summer has had some cool periods
when mildew has thrived.  If the 'Climbing Old Blush' cuttings had some
mildew, it may have tended to weaken them a bit and hold them back from
rooting.  Dipping them in a mild Clorox solution (10%) before making he
final cut and putting them into the rooting medium can give them a a bit of
a boost.

John MacGregor
South Pasadena, CA 91030
USDA zone 9   Sunset zones 21/23
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