Thank you @Diane Brakefield. So you just leave your roses with the virus and don't cull them? Fascinating. And your Evelyn is soooooooo gorgeous!

Don't cull Robert. Diane is right.

I agree that’s Rose Mosaic Virus. I have an Oregold that has foliage very similar, I wonder if they could just market it as a new variety ’Varigated Oregold’ with gold splashed foliage to match the blooms .There are some multicolor Camellia varieties that have splashed white/pink/red blooms, and it’s actually a virus that causes the color variation, it’s not a natural sport. Some virused Camellias have become established, well known varieties and they call the virused version an ’Elegans’. This is my Chandeleri Elegans camellia, I think its much nicer than the solid colored original.

Like Diane, I’ve kept many RMV infected roses with no noticeable decline in performance. Now Rose Rosette Disease is a whole ’nuther story, you must dig out the infected plant so it won’t annihilate your entire rose garden, and bag it and put it in non-compostable garbage can so it cant destory other folks’ gardens.

Ben, you've made an excellent point with your beautiful camellia. Parrot tulips have been sold for hundreds of years, and they're virus infected. Diane

Fascinating. And no, there is definitely no RRD. And even if I suspected that there was, I'd get a lab confirmation from a reputable organization before I remove my 100 roses.... :)

@User It's a virus responsible for those markings, yes. It may be something other than PNRSV (the most common virus that makes the "lightning strike" pattern on foliage) but its a virus alright. Yes, virus can reduce both bloom quantity and quality and this can become increasingly apparent over time. (you don't mention how old this plant is) If it were me, I would watch it for another year and if it continued to decline in performance, and the leaf markings covered most of the plant, then it'd be R&R time (Remove & Replace).

The fact that DA/USA is selling so many virused specimens is shocking, especially considering how DA promotes their product as a "horticultural luxury" (and charges accordingly!) Put me down as "not impressed".

Thanks Paul! I got mine as a gift from somebody who started it from a cutting from their own plant, and so I assume their plant probably has it as well. But I can definitely see how it evolves over the next few years as well. I'm glad this virus is not a particular issue.