The following was stated: "who wrote it knew nothing about roses. KO is a great rose." H.Kuska comment: ? I do not see how one can draw that conclusion from what was written.

The following was stated: " where the similarities end is with the witches broom and of course the massive amount of thorns." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- H.Kuska comment: new growth on some roses have more thorns than the mature growth on the same bush. I assume that this is to help protect the new softer growth against "critters". The witches broom can be also caused by herbicide damage. "Symptoms of RRD may resemble injury from herbicides. If herbicides make contact with rose foliage in late summer or fall, the plants may show damage immediately or the chemical may be stored in the buds. In the latter case, damage becomes evident when buds swell and leaves emerge the following spring. Some herbicides can cause a witches’ broom symptom on roses, as well as yellowing or stunted, narrow leaves (Figure 10). However, excessive thorniness and unusual red pigmentation do not usually occur with herbicide injury. Most herbicides are non-selective, so other plants in the area may also show unusual symptoms of distortion and discoloration." The above witches broom information is from: http://factsheets.okstate.edu/documents/epp-7329-rose-rosette-disease/

I am not sure if you can get the Shield Rose where you live. This one has survived everything that is thrown at it. I never got around to covering it up for the winter. due to going for therapy on a pulled muscle in my arm and upper thigh. I was afraid it had gone but like wow they all survived but one. Here is one of my Shield or there is the gorgeous Chinook Sunrise. Was having issues but you should see it this year and I never got to cover it up as well. This shield rose is awesome!!! Hah one lady said I should cut it back as I wouldn't get any roses on it. Well it made a liar out of her as it did indeed get roses on it all kinds of beautiful red ones. Even had a bout with the sawfly larvae which I ended up taking out my stool and a measuring cup of hot water and dish detergent and picking them off it by hand. Then when finished I threw the water over our wooden fence with them in it. :) I live north of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. Have yet to see the flowers on the chinook as they were all finished with for the season when I bought it from our nearby garden centre. But have seen pictures of them online. Have yet to see any buds on the shield or the chinook.

I have an Iris behind it that I don't want blocked by a shrub ===>>> then move the iris ... i see the variegated one to the left.. .and i think i see cut back iris behind the rose ... flora.. i think this a JBeetle issue more than the rose itself ... and i agree get rid of JB prone plants... if you dont want to spray them all the time .. lifes too short ... i was hoping for a more general pic.. rather than this rather close up shot of just the rose ... so we could see the rest of the bed.. to see what might fit ... the thing with shrubs is they dont stop growing at say .... 3 x3 feet estimate.. and then you are signing up for a lifetime of trying to beat them back with a stick... or preferably ... pruning shears or lopers ... which is fine.. as long as you understand what you are signing up for ... anyway.. my point is.. if i failed to get there .. just dont look at the spot.. look at what easily be moved .. perennial-wise ... to open a space for a more permanent shrub ... wonder if that is any clearer ... in other words.. get of of the box you are sitting in.. and think outside it ... ken picture yourself out in the lawn looking at the garden bed: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=cat+in+small+box&t=ffab&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images