Could be proliferation or bullheading. I don't know whether the variety is susceptible to this developmental disorder, which is caused by cool weather when the buds are forming, plus genetic predisposition. The PG I've observed did have flowers resembling carnations. It had foliar disease problems in our climate, however.

Is the plant otherwise normal looking? If not, your description could also suggest herbicide damage or You Know What.

I think you ought to give it a chance to show you what it can do when it is not stressed.

That said, this rose DOES bloom in tight, mannerly sprays of small blooms. The blooms are smaller than those of a modern carnation, (perhaps 1-inch diameter) but are otherwise quite similar to one in appearance. IMHO, quite engaging.

If you were expecting blooms 3 ins across, then, yes, your expectations were likely not going to be met.

If rugosas fared well here, I would be growing both Pink Groot, and Red Groot.

Jeri

Your experience mirrors mine, I tossed mine after a few years as I thought it just ugly. Give it a couple years and see if it likes your climate.

"WAs I expecting too much?"

Yes.

Some people like it a lot, others find it doesn't satisfy their aesthetic requirements.

Just a reminder: it is a landscape shrub. As such, it's function is to provide color in the landscape. It should be reliable and free blooming when it matures. Plant it with other woody landscape shrubs and it will fulfill its purpose.

It is not as ugly as what she describes. I'm holding out for an abnormal bloom cycle. Has SSU looked at pictures on HMF to see if they are similar?

See these pictures by Buford of deformed Aloha blooms this spring. I'm just 80 miles north, and mine opened just fine because the same cold snap caught my roses at a different stage of development.

Here is a link that might be useful: bullhead roses

Bullhead it could be!

Unfortunately in my climate it proved to be the weakest rugosa hybrid and the most disease prone. Thus, I have only 2 pink groot and 1 red groot.
This said, when they are not diseased they bloom nice & well. But I would not suggest this rugosa... blooms are small, not fragrant (whilst many rugosas are VERY fragrant !) and it does not set hips. Rebloom is "not extraordinary" to be kind...

Although it looks nice in pictures, I consider it inferior to romantic roadrunner or to any other pink landascape-rose.

That's one of mine, in full glory, unfortunately a rare event:

{{gwi:290900}}

I doubt that Pink Groot would do something like the "bullnose" roses referenced. It's not got that sort of petallage.

OTOH, weather condiditons or disease, I suppose, might deform the blooms.
I think you must wait and see what the plant can do when it is not under stress.
That said, if you can look at these blooms and say: "I dislike that!" then this rose is not for you.

Jeri

Beautiful pic.
I received a pink Groot. by mistake(was supposed to be red) through mail-order. I planted it anyway, then found out Rugosas supposedly don't do well in the South. :(
So, the first year it was awful, 2nd yr. same, but this year it was really beautiful...so, go figure. My climate is decidedly different from yours, but the rose has grown on me....its different from the rest.
You might give it another year or so....I'm glad I did.
Have a great day!
Michelle

As I walked past my Pink G yesterday, I noticed how lovely it was. I think, more than anything, it's a matter of taste.

Robert