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Rose Graft Problem

dave125dave125 Posts: 178
in Problem solving
Am I right in thinking that Roses are all grown on existing root stock, ie grafted? Mines gone a bit weird. It was bought as the climber "Starlight Express" and with a bit of training it should flower this year, it's second. From the base (pic one) though is coming what appears to be a Dog Rose. It's obviously a different cultivar. Can I remove this and replant it without hurting or disturbing the main rose? and why has it happened. 
Thanks and lots of luv Dave

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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,051
    it's a sucker. remove it as it will divert nutrients from the variety you've paid for. 
    Try to make sure the point where it's grafted is below soil level by adding mulch as deep as the trough will allow.
    Devon.
  • dave125dave125 Posts: 178
    Brilliant, I'd never heard of that! I've looked it up and it says to go below soil level and cut close to the root. It also says to seal the cut with something. Would you agree with all that and is the sucker Rose worth saving by perhaps treating it as a massive cutting?
    Thanks again. 
    P.S. the reason we bought Starlight Express was that it was the first musical we saw together, not individually. I'm a Rocky Horror fan.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,847
    edited May 2018
    If you can carefully scrape the soil away from that area of the roots and grasp the sucker and yank it firmly downwards you can usually manage to remove the 'eye' where the sucker is growing from and that will avoid it growing again.  

    I don't bother with sealing the wound ... and I wouldn't bother with saving the shoot either ... if you want another rose get one that you want ... the sucker will be from a wild type stock and only flower for a brief period and probably grow huge and be unwieldy. 

    "I'm a Rocky Horror fan"   ........... same here  B) 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • dave125dave125 Posts: 178
    Dovefromabove said:

    "I'm a Rocky Horror fan"   ........... same here  B) 
    Excellent, I'm sure the thought of my next post leaves you shivering in anticip....
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 83,847
    Why not get this one?   https://www.classicroses.co.uk/magenta-shrub-rose.html 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 7,862
    edited May 2018
    As others have said, just yank the sucker off at the scion.  Forget about treating the wound - load of rubbish..

    The sucker will be from Rosa canina frobelii 'Laxa' which is the usual rootstock.  If you want to grow it from the cutting,  it makes a large somewhat unruly shrub, but if you have a wildish area?.. it has pure white flowers, for about 3 weeks in June,  and the rose is thornless, but it's remarkable feature are the hips in winter, which are bright red and large, beautifully shaped, which apparently are excellent for culinary purposes.    Surprisingly this rootstock rose is quite expensive to buy on its own.. or it was the last time I checked on Crocus website, which isn't the cheapest to buy from in any case..

    These rootstocks are grown from seeds for the trade...
    East Anglia, England
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