@Meghan (southern VT, 5b) If a nurseryman uses R. multiflora for grafting onto, they are either using seed grown starts and budding low on the shank to avoid any rootstock shoots coming up later, or they are carefully de-eyeing the cuttings to assure the same result. Properly done, R. multiflora rootstock is unlikely to send up shoots from below, and taking over the scion variety. Note: the same cannot be said of "Dr. Phooey", which almost always sends up shoots from below, ruining the scion plant above.* That said, I do not know if any of the big nurseries still bud onto R. multiflora. Here in the USA, 99% of budded roses are on "Dr. Phooey". Pickering Nurseries used to bud onto seed-grown multiflora, but they ceased operations years ago. I have dozens of European type roses from Pickering that are now 20+ years old, and not one of them has sent up shoots from the rootstock. As I say, if done properly, there's little need to be concerned about multiflora escaping and becoming a pest. *In the nearby city of Corvallis, nearly every third house in the downtown has a specimen of 'Dr. Huey' on their property, the result of the understock sending up shoots and taking over the scion variety.

Jaxondel, unfortunately I do not know, I hope to make it over there this weekend anyways and will let you know. Jackie, it is a great rose, especially for my Dad's yard. There isn't much that can live through his "ignore it all year then trim it with a weed whacker" method of gardening. I don't think I have the space for it in my own yard though unfortunately. Jerijen, unfortunately I've never really kept track of whether or not it bloomed again. Somewhere around February it is just covered in blooms. I want to say that there have been a few years where's it had a smaller flowering at another point in the year, but nothing to compare with early spring. I may just try to bud graft my old Queen Elizabeth onto it anyways for some practice before ordering fortuniana. I have a Queen Elizabeth in my parents yard that I bought about 16 years ago. It was just a cheapie rose from Walmart. The first year or two it looked like it was going to die and the other two roses I got with it did die. So, then I dug it up and replanted it with the graft union buried to give it a chance at going own root since by that point I'd learned that the rootstock it was on was doomed to failure here in Florida. 14 years later it's alive and well, planted near a paved sidewalk which probably helps with the nematodes. But, obviously I don't want to dig it up as I find it a miracle that it's still alive here in Florida.

Tree conflicts with neighbours can get ugly, so document what you do. I'm not a lawyer, but reluctantly had to learn quite a bit about tree law a few years back in a similar situation. Make sure that any official request/offer you make to them is in writing. Email is handy for that, but (trust me on this) can quickly devolve into a flaming match and burn up the relationship, so a good-old-fashioned registered letter can be a good thing once you decide exactly what you would like them to do. That is, if you decide to formally ask them to remove the tree, and if you want to sweeten the deal by offering to buy them another tree, or babysit their kids, or what have you. If you use email, simply use it for this kind of letter and do not engage in conversation that way as well. My advice would also be to not take any unilateral action against the tree until you have talked to them. It seems absurd, but they can sue you if you do that, and they will win. But conversely, if you take the high road, you can sue them and maybe win BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING RIGHT. Feeling anger is fine, but expressing it or acting on it is a mistake. You probably do have the right to sever the roots at the lot line (and install a root barrier) if they refuse to do anything for you. But what one lawyer advised me was to let them know first (via letter) of what you intend to do and why, to give them one more chance to take remedial action themselves, and also to ensure you have done nothing that they can sue you for. Depending on how the conversation with them goes, it won't hurt for you to spend a half hour talking to a lawyer. Karin L

Hey there, NEIGHBOR.. :) I am about 3 hours away from BHAM on Sand Mountain if that tells you anything.. If you are living in the Country like me, I have the perfect choice for you, I am doing the same right now.. Go for a drive and look in open fields and meadows.. Right now MAYPOP, aka Passiflora incarnata, is growing everywhere and is blooming right now.. Make sure you bring a sheffel with you since you have to do a lil deeper digging to get the roots or at least some of the roots.. I have a few fields here I found so far and I always bring my daughter, a sheffel, a critter cage for eggs and caterpillars and a bucket with a small amount of water in it, so they won't dry out on our way home.. You will also find Gulf Fritillary's and also the other Fritillary's(Meadow F.) flying around the vines... I am having a bunch of both types of caterpillars at home right now, they are both feeding on the Maypop..The caterpillars and also chrysalides look a bit different. Just one hint: if you decide to get some Maypop, make sure you check it for ants..I dont rinse mine since it has always caterpillars on it, but I handpick all the ants of it.. Best of Luck,holler at me if you have questions.. Butterfly-Greetings Susanne(SUE) I heard from neighbors that the Maypop is very easy to transplant to a garden, it can become invasive b/c of their amazing rootsystem, so just be careful where you plant it if you don't have a lot of room, I would recommend containers then... Here is a link that might be useful: Passioflora incarnata aka MAYPOP