In my zone, there are two schools of thought about that issue. My well-established preference is for own-root roses because virtually all my roses die to the ground after every winter, and I want to make sure the same rose is what returns, not the rootstock. Other equally cold posters just as fervently prefer the grafted roses, because they have stronger growth in the first year which is more likely to be stronger going into those cold winters. In your zone, neither is much of an issue about winter survival.

There might still be an issue if canker is prevalent in your zone, or from the growers that supply your company. This spring I had a large batch of roses each from two grafted companies that was simply rife with canker and dead canes, and 2/3 of each of those batches of roses died after a few weeks this summer. The companies have both been very good about replacing these, but every grafted company I know of except Palatine buys from different growers each year, so there's no telling what the quality might be in a given year (Palatine has routinely wonderful quality grafted roses in my experience, and Rene personally grafts his own roses for the company).

You'll get better advice from your own zone, but my first reaction would be to check the types of roses she's ordering. If she's planning to grow HTs, I'd lean toward the grafted company, as there are quite a few HTs and floribundas that aren't strong on their own roots. If they're shrubs or other OGRs, then own-root will save her having to deal with the possibility of rootstock suckers over the years. If roses are "too much trouble" for your neighbor, it's possible that watching for canker in the first year or suckers indefinitely might end up being too much work for what she's expecting, and the own-roots might seem easier to her.

Just my thoughts - good for you in enabling yet another budding rose enthusiast!

Cynthia

Everything you read higher in the thread is valid. Add that it depends greatly on the strength of the particular rose and its suitability for your conditions. If she's considering weak growers, urge her to only obtain them budded. Why waste precious water, time, soil and real estate on something that is only going to limp along and never really PLEASE you?

Thanks ladies, I was leaning toward her planting grafted instead of own root. I told her I'd ask the experts (she doesn't do computers much and cringed at the thought of coming to this site).

The problem is she wants to plant "now" and the only way to do that is with own root. I have serious concerns about planting a tiny band in our 100 degree temps.

I will tell her she should go with grafted and in the mean time she can work those beds to get them ready for roses in March.

She's like my 4 year old granddaughter, very impatient. Some of you may remember, she is the neighbor who brought me her grocery store mini rose wanting me to save it saying it was ok if I couldn't because roses are just too much work to fool with anyway. She sometimes walks into my backyard to smell the roses and has become very vocal about how wonderful roses are telling anyone who will listen.

Thanks!

A question from my neighbor......since I've never ordered from Regan before I can't help her. Does she need to place her order soon or can she wait and order in the fall. How soon do they start to sell out of a particular rose.

There's no telling when they would sell out of a given rose, and if she has her heart set on a particular rose, she ought to order it now and then specify a shipping date on their order form. Of course, if she's like my kids when they were four, she may rapidly change her mind and want to change it before the roses are delivered, which can cause grief and/or be costly with some companies. My advice would be to order them unless she's not settled on particular roses, though now isn't a high selling rose season. I've never noticed Regan's having sales, so I don't think she'd need to try to wait for that.

Cynthia

Geez, I didn't know that Regan opened this early! Their web site says ordering now for shipping in 2016. I would think that the newer varieties would sell out first, but just my opinion.

What do people think of the gallon own root roses? I am in CA so I don't need to get own root because of temperature. The only reason I am entertaining it is because there are some varieties that I can only find at Heirloom Roses that only sells own root. Any thoughts on that?

I'm from Southern California and still prefer own root roses, because I don't have to worry about suckers from the rootstalk. I do have one grafted rose, because it is less vigorous on its own roots. It depends on the variety. My own root Night Owl rose is more vigorous than my friend's grafted one, so sometimes the reverse is true! I'm happy with Heirloom Roses' gallon size. It is still smaller than a grafted rose that you would buy at a big box store, because it is younger, but it will eventually catch up. Here is a photo of a gallon size I received from Heirloom Roses just this week. It's so healthy. Their band sizes are good too.

Speaking specifically of Heirloom Roses, I've been very pleased with the ten or more gallon-size roses they've shipped here in the last two years. They've arrived with strong roots growing throughout the pot's soil & multiple canes. Tend to shift them into 2-gallon pots after a week or so resting from their cross-country journey & grow them on before planting out. Find that easier on myself & the rose while we're getting to know one another. Also allows for experimenting with siting to find what the rose & I like best before planting, but I don't mind tending to pots. (Would rather do that than shift roses already grounded.)

Thank you so much for your quick replies! I did receive two (1) gallon own root roses from Heirloom as well, but had not yet put them in the ground. I agree they look healthy and have begun to take off in the manure pot I put them in prior to going in the ground. I have my eye on two more varieties and was getting nervous, because some people post that hybrid teas are not as vigorous on their own roots.

Jasminerose you really helped me out. I guess the answer is that it depends on the rose and since there is so many different opinions, climates, roses and gardeners, I decided to do my own experiment...I purchased (1) Neptune grafted rose and (1) Neptune own root rose. I will try to give them both similar tender loving care.

To be continued...

Many mauve roses aren't vigorous on their own roots, but they can be small and still happy. I don't need monster roses in my small garden. One mauve rose that does well on its own roots is Wild Blue Yonder and it is in stock at Heirloom Roses.

I learned the hard way that mauve roses tend to burn in the heat. A spot that receives morning sun and afternoon shade should work nicely for your rose. Are you in northern or southern California?

Although I try not to do it often, Heirloom Roses is very nice about changing orders if you should change your mind. Have fun :-)

Thanks for the tip. Is there a rule of thumb for which color does do best on own root? I was considering Amazing Grace, Bride and Velvet Fragrance own room since I can't get them locally. I don't have a lot of heat since I am near the coast.

My friend has Velvet Fragrance and it does very well on its own roots. It's a highly scented, vigorous, healthy red HT. I'm not familiar with the other roses. Here is a link to a video from Paul Zimmerman that might be helpful: The Difference Between Own Root and Grafted Roses.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! That video was extremely helpful. It made me do a turnabout...I will get my Austins as own root instead of grafted even though I can find them locally - I need them to get bushy and full to hide something ugly. And, I may stick with grafted for most of my hybrid teas with the exception of Velvet Fragrance since all the qualities you listed are ones that I really value. I appreciate the more granular lesson.

For me, own roots were spindly, thinly branches and took forever to get to to mature size. Perhaps it is the fact that I am zone 6A but I will never go back to own root again.

Since she already considers a rose as too much work. Try steer her towards highly disease resistant varieties. Something like Savannah to get her confidence up. Some of those are very vigorous as own roots.

My Julia Child is healthy on its own roots and is sending up a strong new cane, even though I've only had it since October. It has an old fashioned bloom form and flowers continuously.

Should have added that own root nursery usually won't sell a variety that does not grow well on its own roots. All of mine do very well as long as I plant early before the heat has begun. A late order needs potted up first.

One would hope, but that is often not the case.

Yes, Sterling Silver needs to be grafted. At my old house, my grandparents gave me that rose along with Queen Elizabeth. The roses looked very odd together since QE did so well and SS barely grew.