I've seen Pat Austin growing like a house afire, up in the Sierra Foothills, on Hwy 49. Maybe it likes a colder winter?

Generally speaking, Huey is a good rootstock for California -- better here than Multiflora. I'd check your pH before wading into Multiflora, as it really needs a nice acidic soil.

FWIW, the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden generally uses Manetti.

Jeri

Perhaps an increased vigor on a plant may make it more capable of defending itself against diseases.

Robert

I have never had any reason to believe that rootstock has any effect at all on disease resistance. On the other hand, it can affect plant performance. While I am normally a great advocate of Fortuniana as a stock in our area, 'Graham Thomas' grows as a gigantic, once-flowering monster on that stock. If I grow it on Huey, it is a big but manageable bush which repeats frequently.

Dr. Huey is a good rootstock for highly alkaline soil, as far as I know, that's why it is preferred in southern California.
But California is a big state and in the north, in the San Francisco area the soil is very acidic. For example Cass mentioned that her soil pH was somewhere in the 5.5 range. I am not sure that Dr. Huey rootstock is a great success in that region/soil.

Can someone please tell me what rootstock is used by the Austin roses that are ordered from England and are grown in Texas? Since I live in Southern California I suppose I should hope it's Dr. Huey.

Thanks.

Ingrid

Ingrid, you mean when you order directly from Austin in the US? Dr. Huey.

Yes, that was what I meant, Diane, although I didn't put it very well. Thank you for your answer. That's good to know.

Ingrid

Well I live in the bay area and my clay soil is around 7.0, just a bit on the alkaline side (although, I need to test it again because I added nusury soil and tons of compost).

So how many rootstock choices are there? As I ordered mine from D Austin in Tyler Texas, I wonder if it is the best choice or if own root is better?

It probably depends upon the individual cultivar.
I've wondered if some of the roses that were Jolly Green Giants here on Multiflora and on Huey might have been better plants on their own roots.

Jeri

How long have you had those roses? In my experience it has always taken 3 years to get either of those to decent size, and until that point they're pretty weak. I'm fairly certain all the DA roses in the US are on Dr. Huey, also, they're not grown in Texas even though their offices are there, they're grown in Arizona.

--Ron