Monday, May 23, 2011

Beauty and the Beast

This morning I was drawn in by the contrast of a Beauty and a Beast not far from each other in the garden.  Let's start with the beast or monster rose showing up on the usually beautiful Tradescant.  I don't know what it is called or what causes it, but sometimes roses will produce what I have often called "Frenzied Growth."  This out of control growth sends out very large rapidly growing canes which are covered with thorns and produce malformed blooms that look like something from Little Shop of Horrors.  Other parts of the bush seem normal but this growth is just bizarre.  If any of you can tell me what this is called or what causes it I would appreciate your help.  I'm not too troubled by it because it seems to settles down after a while but is just weird.  Right now Lavender Lassie and Buff Beauty are affected along with Tradescant.

EDIT: After reading much of http://www.rosegeek.com/  a website suggested by HolleyGarden, I decided that Rose Rosette Disease is the likely culprit and early this morning went out and removed all canes which appeared to affected.  In fact, the site scared me a bit and I'm sure I might have even removed some health growth in over vigilance.  The description as "Witches' Broom" fit for an area of growth not pictured.  RRD appears to be spread through a mite.  The product used for this particular mite is no longer on the market.  More research ahead.  I will keep an eye on these roses and will remove them if I was unable to remove the disease from the rose.



Now for the beauty.  I really like Treasure Trail, the Moss Rose released in 2009 by Paul Barden.  It is a compact grower with very healthy, glossy, dark green foliage.  Flowers on Treasure Trail are 2 1/2-3" in size, quartered, cupped, and usually has a button eye in the center.  The color of the salmon pink flowers is quite unique having a yellow center and often a hint of lavender.  Treasure Trail's flowers last a long time on the bush or when cut and brought into the house.  The mossy growth on the the buds, sepals, and stems always draws the attention of garden visitors.  Someday I will have to do a blog on Treasure Trail by itself.  Those unfamiliar with Moss Roses might confuse its mossing with the previously mentioned "frenzied growth" but it is totally different and entirely desirable.


8 comments:

  1. Have you ever heard of Rose Rosette Disease? I don't know if that's what your 'Monster' is, but you might want to check out www.rosegeek.com for pictures and details. I hope that's not it and that you have something else going on.

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  2. Sounds like it going through some wild oats.

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  3. Scott, found a website that might help: www.rose-roses.com I only have ONE rose bush and something attacked it in last 2 days. Sidney

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  4. Holley, I have heard of RRD but have not had a need to know much about it. On first look at the website you sent me, it has me concerned enough to really look into this. Much of how it describes RRD sounds similar to what is going on with Tradescant. Thanks for the information and I can tell it is going to take some time to digest it all.

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  5. The second photo looks very suspicious of RRD. I've had two plants with it a couple of years ago. But,... it is so difficult to tell from photos.

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  6. Grouchy, so how did things turn out on your affected roses? Were you able to catch it in time or did you lose the plants?

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  7. The plants were next to each other and I immediately dug both up. I put them in large plastic lawn trash bags and drove them to the dump. I have not planted in that space (bed) for two years.
    Ann Peck in Tennessee has done some research on RRD and can be found on Google Books.

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  8. Hi,

    I think RRD is the most dreaded diseases for all rosarians. But if it is not that, it very well could be that perhaps you gave a liitle too much fertilizer to your rose bush. I did this one season and a few of my roses had blooms growing out of blooms and all sorts of odd growth. You did the right thing by cutting off the infected canes though, just keep a very close eye on it and if you have anymore of the strange growth I would dig it up and throw it in the trash.
    Good Luck to you!

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