Thank you! I would like to replace it as it has rose mosaic virus. I had it about 17-years before I noticed the virus. The past 3-years it did not bloom well. This year it seems to be making a bit of a comeback.

I think it is a good idea to replace a virused rose.

I posted on the "Roses" forum about replacing Spectra as I could not find it in commerce. One respondent suggested Nelson's Nursery in Fla., but they sell roses on Fortuniana rootstock. I would consider it because of the unique location of this rose bed, but I am still not sure what to do. In the past 10-years we have had lows at -37, and -32 and -31F, and I think -28. The latter three were in the same year. I think if I could get it established with the crown underground it could become mostly own root after two or three years.

Thoughts?

Do you know where else this could be purchased on a more hardy rootstock? Spectra is one of my favorite roses, a big flowered climber, that is unique to this region.

If someone in Denver has it and is willing to allow it to be propagated I have found that Matt at High Country Roses will propagate a rose for a customer. I know this because sometimes I am going through his greenhouse and I spot something I love but the name isn't one I'm familiar with. When I've asked him he says he is propagating it special for a customer. You could call him and ask him. He may know of someone who has it.

He is also fond of rare old roses and likes putting them back into commerce.

I love the pictures I'm seeing of it on helpmefind. It has a much bigger flower than I've seen on his other tri-color roses.

I did some post processing on this photo, to improve contrast and sharpen it so individual petals were discernible. The flower was so brilliant in the sun to my eye, and to the eye of the camera, it looks like someone (me) increased the saturation to pretty it up, but I actually reduced the color saturation because in its original form it was too brilliantly colored.

How would we know if someone in Denver has a nonvirused version of this rose? Would he order it from Nelson's and propagate it? I propagated one rose by placing a cutting in the magic rose bed behind my office, otherwise I was not successful at propagating roses without some root system in existence b4 planting.