Interesting. I guess that's why most hybrid tea roses grown here in zone 3 don't do very well for most people.

Carol

The Japanese did a trial about 10 years ago. They found that the harder you pruned a rose the weaker the roots were. A rose needs it's canes to be strong and healthy. They said that no more than a third was acceptable for the rose.

What they do in the greenhouse at Pinchbeck farms is to use support wires to keep the long canes upright--that way you can harvest long stems and still leave lots of cane on the plant. I think one of the secrets to rose exhibiting is to be able to judge which blooms will look great at show time so you don't unduly weaken your rose bushes by taking too many long stemmed blooms.

oldrosarian - That's bad news for cold zoners wanting to push the zones. Interesting.

Carol

Gardeners in cold climates can grow roses that are bred to survive very cold winters They will come back cheerfully even when they normally die right down to the ground. . The tests were done on modern hybrid teas and floribundas.

Yeah, I know ... but I was talking about pushing the zones. :)

Carol