Mine, in heavy clay and nipped back by winter (5F this past Tues, for example), is controlled without my having to do much to limit it. Mine isn't on a watering system and doesn't get fertilizer.

Mine are in well-drained soil and not in a sheltered location. Right now, the leaves look as if they have felt the effects of winter, so the plants scarcely appear threatening; however, the suckering did concern me, and when I did an internet search, I was alarmed to find that some described this rose as a nuisance.

Do you continue to believe that it isn't susceptible to RRD?

Lindsey

So far I have NO reports of the pure species catching RRD. It's offspring Mermaid has caught RRD in three states.

The mites that spread RRD don't like something about the leaves of bracteata. That goes back to work by Amrine and Kassar. (Bracteata is susceptible to RRD infection by grafting.)

That's what I know so far. I had hopes that some of the Moore bracteata hybrids would have leaves a lot like the species; of those I've grown, I don't see that much similarity with the bracteata leaves side of the tree. The thorns seem easily passed along.

Thank you, Ann--I consider this an important point, because I'd hate to have such a large rose that spreads so easily that is also susceptible to RRD. So far, I haven't heard any reports of it in Hanover, but I've described the symptoms to several people I know who grow roses and warned them watch for it. I'm concerned for my own roses because of nearby land sold to developers where brambles, saplings, and of course multifloras are now growing. Several multifloras have come up in my yard, and while they are fine now, I suppose I should get rid of them before spring just as a precaution.

I suspect that multifloras along the riverbank may have been the source of infection at Hollywood Cemetery, in which case getting rid of it will be difficult.

Lindsey