Sounds as if the roots might have gotten damaged somehow. If it were mine, I would water it well (make sure the water drains, and it is not sitting in some sort of non-draining spot), and I would WAIT. If it is sitting in a non-draining spot for some reason, you will need to dig it up and re-plant it somewhere that drains better. I would not feed it. I don't know about where you are, but we have had a really cold Spring, and some of my newly planted roses are getting going very slowly.

Jackie

Do you have a soil thermometer to see what your soil temp is? Cold soil = recalcitrance.

I would check DA's guarantee and see how long you have. If it gets close to a deadline, and they are still not leafing out, phone them & ask for a refund or credit. Phone, don't email. Don't wait until after the deadline.

My WS2K took a ridiculously long time to finally leaf out, like 4 months. Six or seven years later it is alive, well, vigorous and blooming (a lot).

I have heard from an expert on roses that, when he has a rose that doesn't want to get going, he puts a white 5 gallon bucket over it. I don't know if this creates a hotter/humid environment without full sun, but he swears by it. It seems worth a try.

Robert

When I went to the local nursery where i bought a rose with a problem like this they told me it needed to be "sweated", which is basically what Robert described. They showed me roses that they had done this to that recovered, however I felt that the best thing to do was to receive a replacement. It seems to me that a rose like this hsa lost alot of growing time and why should we have to "sweat" it?

It's only about 3-4 feet from other bareroot roses that are doing well. I -think- it's draining ok. Unfortunately I don't have a soil thermometer... (should I have one?)

I got an email response from DA, they're saying its too late to plant bareroot roses here, where I am, that it's too warm? (is this so?) basically, that if I want, they'll send me a replacement now, but they can't guarantee it, or I can wait till next spring.

What do you guys think I should do?

You can use your finger as a thermometer--stick your finger down there in the soil several inches in late afternoon--does it feel cold? Should be pretty warm by late afternoon. If it's still cold, the soil is still cold & the rose may be waiting for a warm-up.

I would try the white bucket and see what happens, AND also ask for a replacement to be sent next spring, just in case. If it grows before then, you have time to call and cancel. If not, your bases are covered! On the white bucket, if the days are pushing 80 or over, be careful, because you don't want to cook the plant either, just warm it up.

Thanks, hoovb! I'll give it a shot!

just an update,... the little baby now has a couple little shoots on it, so it's NOT dead. HURRAY!

Great news! Maybe it was just waiting for warmer soil. Let us know how it fares.