Own root Oklahoma?

10 years ago

I have an own-root Oklahoma that I bought as a gallon from Heirloom 3 years ago. It is planted in my best rose bed & all its neighbors are thriving. OK is barely 3' x 1', skinny & sparse canes, and barely flowers. What flowers it does produce are small, maybe 2"; open & blow in 2 days; are relatively shapeless and have little scent. My parents had an Oklahoma when I was growing up & it was a huge, blooming, fragrant beast. It was grafted on whatever J&P used.

My question: does Oklahoma just not grow well on its own roots or do I possibly have a weak plant? It's going to be up for SP next year and I don't want to get another Oklahoma if this is its typical own root performance. Thanks!

Featured Answer

barbarag_happy

10 years ago

Even in a really large garden I just don't think Oklahoma is worth the space. I put it in my best area, between Lavaglut and Mystic Beauty. Those two grew into nice full plants which bloom repeatedly. Oklahoma-- few blooms, quick blow, sad plant.

I had heard it was one of the better reds for a hot climate. Not so much here in coastal SE Virginia.

I have two new plants of Dark Desire, really exciting to see it take off. At four months of age in a pot already bushier and more productive than Oklahoma ever was.

I don't know whether Oklahoma has lost its vigor after years of propagation, or would be better grafted, or is just not for a hot climate. Even Mister Lincoln is better here.

Both Lavaglut and Dark Desire are that same beautiful blackish red as they start to open.

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Comments (8)

pat m
10 years ago
I have a grafted Oklahoma I got last year from Home Depot. It has grown well and blooms pretty well too, but the blooms do shatter in a couple of days. The blooms are large and fragrant. I like it.
Holly Webster(7bNC) thanked pat m
AquaEyes 7a NJ
10 years ago
I had 'Oklahoma' as a potted own-root plant in a 22" resin barrel, and it grew rather well, with a few canes reaching five feet from the surface. Unfortunately, it was one of the casualties of being left out through Winter 2014-2015 -- lesson learned. As it turned out, I've become less of a fan of typical modern HT growth habit in pots, so it was almost a relief that I didn't have to shovel-prune healthy plants just because they didn't look the way I wanted. While mine did grow well, it and several of the others looked how you described -- though more robust for me, it was rather naked at the bottom 24".

:-)

~Christopher
Holly Webster(7bNC) thanked AquaEyes 7a NJ
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roseloverinsf
10 years ago
I got mine last year from HR, also in a gallon pot. It had four flowers so far this year, all of which didn't open and petals dropped off simultaneously as they age. They do smell even when unopened. The second "flush" has two buds now. It is skinny with bare "legs". I grow it in a 15" pot.
Holly Webster(7bNC) thanked roseloverinsf
Holly Webster(7bNC)
Original Author
10 years ago
Barbarag_happy, thanks so much for your input. I am in central NC, a climate very similar to yours. Your experience with Oklahoma really validates my own. I think Oklahoma will be going away next year. It's just not worth the effort. It also has bs REALLY bad in my no spray garden. Sigh. I just want a deep, true red that is super fragrant, decently floriferous and lasts a couple of days on the bush. I have a baby Firefighter and a really happy Grand Amore. I just need one more red! If Grand Amore was fragrant, it might be the ideal red rose imho.
diane_nj 6b/7a
10 years ago
Own-root HTs are not worth the time here. I also don't have any recommendations for HTs that will do well in a no-spray garden on the east coast, at least, not in NJ.
Holly Webster(7bNC)
Original Author
10 years ago
I have 26 OR HTs doing really well here in NC piedmont. That is why I was wondering about Oklahoma being such a dawg. I like growing roses on their own roots and don't mind having to wait for them to mature a bit. But really, 4 yrs is enough. Even for me ; )
seil zone 6b MI
10 years ago
I have a grafted OK and it's terrible. As you said, small and spindly and rarely blooms. The blooms I do get are pretty for a short time but do blow quickly to a messy looking thing. I've kept it because it does winter but if it decides to croak I won't replace it.
Holly Webster(7bNC) thanked seil zone 6b MI