Two of us spent almost 3 hours yesterday cutting multiflora canes then painting them with RoundUp. We are probably only a third of the way done in getting to everything I'd like to remove. A handful of the bushes deep in the fence line had canes 3"-4" in diameter so we had to use a hand saw instead of lopers for those. We probably cut down 40-50 bushes and maybe all but one or two were diseased. I'm afraid there wouldn't be enough WiltPruf in the state of TN to supply all I would need for this job! ;-) Nor would I want to spray (or pay for!) that much RoundUp. The best news is that the acre or so I did last year with this method still looks free of multiflora. Even without spraying to entrap the mites I'm thinking I'm better off than just leaving it all growing. I've got my helper coming back in a few days for another round. I'll try to get some pictures to post. Thank you everybody!

Vettin, how wonderful that forum members like you have become so aware of R. multiflora's connection to problems like non-native invasion and RRD! Rosa multiflora can spread in 4 ways: (1) a human sticks a plant (not rootstock) in the ground, (2) an existing multiflora plant tip roots when canes bend and touch the soil, (3) an existing multiflora produces seeds that contact soil and sprout, and (4) a chosen cultivar that has been grafted onto multiflora stock sends up multiflora shoots from the stock and these shoots flower and seed or tip root...or the cultivar reverts completely to rootstock. If your purchased cultivars are properly grafted and well cared for (planted below the bud union, watered, fed, etc.), the plants should not revert to rootstock--whether it is multiflora, Dr. Huey or whatever. If a cultivar is poorly grafted, multiflora suckers may pop up around the cultivar and require removal, sliced away as close to the bud union as possible. As long as your multiflora rootstock remains rootstock, you are not spreading R. multiflora. Pickering grafts its roses on multiflora. I just purchased three OGRs from Pickering. Hope this reply helps! Carol This post was edited by PortlandMysteryRose on Tue, May 20, 14 at 22:53

Deb, I was just yesterday looking at the K & M Nursery list (In Mississippi), and I'm pretty sure Papa Meiland was on the list. They graft on Fortuniana. You have to contact them via email, phone or fax. When I get home, I'll get it to you via email. Is that OK? BTW, how old is your Perle d'Or? And Malcolm does say Mrs B R Cant can be grown on her own roots. Is your soil sandy or more clay? He says in the north part of the state they have more normal soil - similar to Georgia, but that may not be the same for the Panhandle. Pete and Sandy, sounds kind of random. I removed a Hybiscus that had only been in the ground about a year and noticed a few nodules on the roots. Not knowing any better, I assumed it was from nematodes which did not bode well for a nearby Golden Showers on Dr Huey (who has since left the premises.) I'm wondering now if the nodule was from nematodes or if they are the same ones that bother roses. ceterum, glad you're interested. Stay tuned. Sherry

One thing I'm curious about is that my OGRs on Multiflora over the years seem to have much more trouble with it than my modern roses. *** Here is an example. I have an informal hedge of 6-8 'Golden Celebrations.' The first one planted (and the largest) of them came from Hortico, and is on Multiflora. It was one of the first GCs planted in our part of the country. I think there's an even chance it is not virused. It is very vigorous, and repeats like a champ. It is almost always chlorotic to some degree or another. If that doesn't bother you, it's fine. (It bothers me.) ----------------- The rest of the plants are on Dr. Huey. They are almost certainly virused. If they get enough water, they're very very vigorous, and repeat like champs. They are NOT troubled by chlorosis. The color contrast between the big yellow blooms and the deep green foliage is beautiful. The difference in the foliage between the one plant on Multiflora and the several on Huey is striking. Jeri