Rose Suckers

celcius_kkw

So I’ve noticed these loooong canes that arise from my lady of Shallot base, they appear to emerge from a spot VERY close to the bud union, perhaps just quarter of an inch below the bud union, seemingly a lot more vigorous than the rest of the plant and whilst the rest of the plant have produced flower buds these canes have not. I sort of concluded that they must be suckers and have removed them. Just want an external opinion from the good people here that I have done the right thing? I’m also going to shamelessly tag @Marlorena for this. 😛

Dovefromabove

I would have left them ... I don’t think they’re suckers. 

Maybe @Marlorena is around to have a look ... ? 

celcius_kkw

@Dovefromabove I too, was agonising over whether to remove them but the thing that made me think they’re suckers is the fact they appear to be disproportionately long compared to the rest of the plant and there’s not a single bud on them despite the opposite on the other canes. 

Things would have been a lot easier had they not emerge from a point so very close to the bud union. 

Dovefromabove

I think it’s only doing what it’s bred to do, and grow into a larger shrub ... the David Austin website says they grow to 4ft x 4ft. 

Marlorena

@celcius_kkw  oh gosh no, they're not suckers at all,,   very much part of the rose and normal growth for Lady of Shalott.... remember this rose is very vigorous and will throw up long canes that can be trained to climb...   that's what it's wanting to do...

However, as you've removed them, you'll be returning the rose to a smaller shrub form, which you can do... especially as it's in a pot... so no real harm done, it depends what your intentions are with the rose, as to how you want it growing...

...just for future reference.. a sucker will be thornless, and the foliage quite different, pale green, matt and rougher in texture...

celcius_kkw

@Marlorena @Dovefromabove

oh no! I guess I learn something new every day. Just out of interest why do these extra long canes not bear any flowers at all? Next time I must post pictures here before I consider taking anything out. 

On another note, it’s true that I don’t want the shrub to grow too big as they’re in a medium sized pot only and they’re on a rooftop terrace which gets windy due to the height and exposed nature. That said I could have pruned it rather than ripping it out 😜 

Marlorena

...they would have produced flowers at the top, and later on from lower down with side shooting... but I would have reduced the length by about 1/3rd in keeping with the rest of your rose, and from that they should side shoot producing blooms...  it's something you will have to do as pot maintenance for a rose like this...

...in my garden against a wall... it could grow double this size if allowed... I have to prune... I would struggle to keep it 4 x 4 but I know they grow it in a pot at Austins, it's on their Gallery pages somewhere...

...I like your pots and high up location... quite a view you have there... I might feel a little dizzy... 

  

celcius_kkw

@Marlorena what a gorgeous plant you’ve got there! It’s tempting to upgrade to a bigger pot but I think I will just enjoy them as they are for now those buds look set to bloom by this weekend. My lady of shallot came pruned so this will be the first time of me seeing it in bloom. So exciting! 

micearguers

@celcius_kkw I like how Wall-E the little robot seems to be looking curiously and approvingly at your rose! (the thing that keeps your balustrade together).

Joy*

If this is any consolation,  the bits you have removed have7 leaflets, the rest of the bush only 5. They were very close to the union but quite possibly were suckers. 

celcius_kkw

@micearguers good spot lol! I will never look at that the same way again. 

@Joy* haha thank you. I really did agonise over it when I was deciding whether to remove it. That said Marlorena our in house rose expert thinks it’s less likely to be a sucker, but then hey ho sucker or not I will still get to enjoy the flowers hopefully in not too long.