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My rose has scale, what do I do?

Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I believe this is scale on my rose, but I'm not sure what to do. Is the second photo also scale? Does the whole cane have it and need to be cut down? I would like to know the least harmful thing I can do to treat it. It's been consistently over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, so I don't think I can use horticultural oil at this time. This rose is the hard to find, Black Magic HT and I really don't want to lose it. Your advice is appreciated. Thank you.

Featured Answer

stillanntn6b

8 years ago

I think I see the small bumps that are worrying you.

Take a qtip and dip it in rubbing alcohol. Hold it against one of the bumps for maybe half a minute, then wipe it and see if the bump comes off. Repeat.

If a lot of bumps come off, you probably have scale.

I have totally cleaned a cycad of scale by wiping down each frond with qtips and alcohol and the scale didn't come back. (This was in Houston and the scale insects were larger and I was sure of what they were.)

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Comments (12)

jacqueline9CA
8 years ago
I tried to blow up your pictures, but they are too fuzzy to see the bumps clearly. I have never seen scale on roses (only on my flowering crab apple tree), and I am not certain that is what these bumps are. However, if you can easily pry them off the canes, it might be. You have very few. What I would do is gently rub the cane (I use my fingers) to rub them off.

Jackie
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18 thanked jacqueline9CA
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you, Jackie. I will give that a try.
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seil zone 6b MI
8 years ago
That doesn't look like scale to me. It looks more like the cane is aging and becoming bark like. That's normal. If you scrape it with your nail does it flake off? If so then just gently remove it. If not then just leave it alone.
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18 thanked seil zone 6b MI
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
That would be great if that's the case. I'm only in my second year with roses, so I've never looked closely at an aged cane before. Maybe it's an aged, sunburnt cane, because part of it is dark brown. Thank you, Seil.
User
8 years ago
I'm wondering why the newer greener cane coming out of the soil has no thorns?
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I tried the alcohol and they didn't come off. Maybe it is damage from the sun. It's been extremely hot lately and the rose lost most of its leaves. I moved the rose today to a better location. It used to be in front of my house, where shade cloth is not allowed by my HOA. Hopefully, it will leaf out again. Thank you all for your help. If I ever do see scale, I'll know what to do :)

Irisgal, I'm not sure why the new cane has such small thorns below, but there are larger ones further up.
User
8 years ago
Oh good. I was afraid it might be a Dr. Huey sucker.

I don't see scale on your rose either. Here's the kind that very occasionally shows up here.
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18 thanked User
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
Original Author
8 years ago
That is a very clear photo. Thanks.
User
8 years ago
Your rose does not have scale. Those are normal aging/bark formation marks.
roseseek
8 years ago
Seil and Paul hit it right on, Bonnie. That isn't scale, simply aging bark and completely normal. Look on the SCV Rose Society page for scale and you'll see what it can look like.
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18 thanked roseseek
Jasminerose, California, USDA 9b/Sunset 18
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thank you, everyone! I feel silly, but also relieved.

I had looked at photographs, but came up with the wrong diagnosis. It's a good thing I can consult all of you experienced folks :)

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