Question about Rosa foetida bicolor, the Austrian Copper rose

14 years ago

Is anyone familiar with this weird old species rose?

This is my first rose and I am not sure how to handle its idiosyncracies! I planted it last spring and now this spring it had all-yellow blooms on its two long new canes.

Now, coming from one of the short old canes that were present when I bought the rose is one red-and-yellow bloom, which is what I want! It made me wonder if the long new canes with all yellow flowers were maybe coming from the rootstock. But I also found these sentences in three different articles on the bicolor:

"It can throw stems that flower a bright yellow bloom like its parent, Rosa foetida, which make it visually so interesting to have both colored flowers on one plant."

"Sometimes produces all yellow flowers."

"'R. f. bicolor' commonly sports back to 'R. foetida'."

What I'm wondering is whether to cut off the all-yellow canes or wait and see what they do next year. I don't know if this makes a difference, but I was told to bury the graft two inches deep here in Minnesota. Why a species rose would have a graft at all, I do not understand, but, as I said, this is my first rose and I don't know much!

I don't mind some of the blooms being yellow, since this seems to be its nature, but I would like to encourage the bicolor blooms.

Thanks,

Nancy

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Comments (5)

anntn6b
14 years ago
Nancy,
It isn't the strongest rose and if you cut it back to just the orange part, you'll weaken the rose. IF it were mine, I'd let it be until next year and then try to split if after the bloom season. I'd also give a bit of fertilizer to the side of the bush that retained the orange.
(Have you seen David Austin's modern rose Pat Austin? Some of the same wonderful colors with bigger blooms that repeat through the season. Unlike foetida bicolor, Pat needs protection through your winters, but ....take a look.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pat Austin on helpmefind
joebar
14 years ago
if my memory serves me correctly, isn't this the roses that supposedly introduced blackspot to all the modern roses?
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I have several solid yellow and the bi-color, as well as one that is solid red, growing together in a tangled hedge (mess) that's about 20 ft long. They've survived -30 to +118F, are very drought tolerant--in fact, in the 40 years I've lived here, I've never watered them. Where I live is considered "high-desert," and between June and mid-September, we get less that 1/2" or rain. They've never had fertilizer. They are growing in very poor, clay soil. There's never been any sign of disease. So I'd consider these to be extremely hardy. The only problem is they are out of control and growing as they wish. They are about 10'tall, 12'wide and the patch is 25' long. I like them and so do the birds. -- I do wish they had more than one bloom. The flowers last only between two or three weeks. My wife hates them. She wants the space and says, what good is a rose that blooms once, then is a brier patch? I have orders to kill them. I've manged to keep her mad for three years by not obeying. However, this year the threat is if I don't get rid of them, she's going to hire someone to do it. I'd be happy to let you have all I can. However, I don't know how to propagate, get a cutting, whatever. You'll have to help me out. Let me know if interested. Bob
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I get humid here. Im on the shore of lake superior but it doesnt get like the SW states here, or as bad as toronto. Im close enough to the lake that the yard can be 5-8C warmer in the summer , and 5C cooler in summer than even 5km away from me. THings are tight for room but there is still some good airflow in most places. I have a "Hunter" rose that doesnt seem to grow as "tight" as the foetida seem to but is still a shrub rose so pruning should be ok. I dont recall seeing to much black spot up here anyways. Mostly powdery mildew, aphids or rust. Most of that I have stopped from watering with the hose and using a watering can instead.
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jerijen
14 years ago
Your rose has sported back to its parent, R. foetida.
The change could be temporary, or permanent.

You have a pretty young plant.
I agree with Ann -- give it a year, and see what it does.

Jeri
crocosmia_mn
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all --- I will wait and see what next year brings!

The Pat Austin is pretty, but I do like the stronger colored, single, wild-rose appearance of Austrian Copper.

Dirr says: "magnificent rose with copper-red petals, yellow on the back side; often yellow or combination colored flowers occur on some branches; it is a tremendous experience to see it in full flower; perhaps no more handsome rose."

But it does have numerous little problems, such as its blooms only lasting about a day! It is possible that it will be as frustrating to me as trying to grow Crocosmia in Minnesota....

Yes, I believe it is true about black spot.

Thanks again,

Nancy
lionessrose
14 years ago
Have had my Aus for approx. 27 years.
She started out as 1 plant in a gallon bucket when planted originally.
She is mostly orange/yellow when in bloom but she does throw solid yellow blooms from time to time.
She has never had BS or other problems and she is the rose I mostly ignore, she is last on the list and lucky to get watered :o)
I did find out the hard way, she blooms on old canes.
Here she is now, she has not bloomed yet... but she has tons of buds :o)
I will try to post a pic for you when she blooms.

{{gwi:294081}}

Lioness

Question about Rosa foetida bicolor, the Austrian Copper rose

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anntn6b

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Question about Rosa foetida bicolor, the Austrian Copper rose

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