Looks to me like proliferation / vegetative growth. In my climate some roses are prone to it if they flower (too) early in the season. Seems to me to be weather related which may affect plant hormones. I've noticed that the earliest I prune the more chance there is of it happening.

I agree with Nik. Don't worry about it.

Yes, I agree too.

Jackie

Phew! thanks.. I am somewhat new to growing roses, and I have heard all about the nasty pests and illnesses roses can get. Thanks again

Unless, of course, it turns out to be one of those dismally-disappointing roses that does this all the time for you.

I've also read that this can sometimes be caused by over fertilization too. I think they said too much nitrogen which promotes a lot of leaf growth instead of bloom. But as Jeri said, some roses are just prone to doing this. What rose is it?

'Fisherman's Friend' did it ALL THE TIME. And it was NOT overfertilization. It did it with NO fertilization. That's why I got rid of the miserable hideous thing.

The rose is Red Climbing Eden, but it is possible i over fertilized, i used Dr. Earth rose fertilizer. Im in zone 9 by the way :)

This could be proliferation, but I also know this can be caused by tiny insects (thrips?) that scurry around in the center of the bud. Eventually, the buds can get eaten down to almost nothing--the petal parts. I have had this happen on several roses of mine for years. Some years are worse than others, and both light and dark roses can be affected, but they always are the ones with lots of petals. This coming season I'm going to photograph some of those buds, and maybe we can get more answers to the problem. I'm sick of it. Diane

Haku84, that's exactly what the Evelyn buds in my garden looked like last Spring, only a few buds matured all summer. The thrips were a nightmare ! Most of my roses were a complete washout the whole year; only Alchymist and Madame Hardy did well, probably in part due to their once blooming early.

I'm with you Diane, sick of thrips getting away with murder. This Spring I'm calling in help from the local nursery to try the Dr Earth products they suggest although it's going to cost me.

Could be either one, but I'm inclined to think it is proliferation.

i think my Evelyn suffered from both.

Evelyn is indeed one of the most affected. Another many petaled one, Caramel Antique, has the problem at times. I've actually seen the little buggers, so I believe in this garden it's mostly thrips, or thrips like insects. Diane

Thanks for all your input. I did spray with a horticultural oil as the rose begun to leaf out, in an effort to get head of the possible thrips. So should I leave this bud alone and see how it blooms or should I remove it?

If it is thrips, you will be able to see damage in the white part of the rose. That is where it shows up most clearly. You will see brown streaks or tiny brown spots. In your case I would be tempted to leave it for a few days just to find out for sure which one is causing it.

Once you know you can remove any damaged roses promptly. This may reduce (but not eliminate) the spread of the thrips. You'll probably take the proliferating ones off as well but it's not so important in that case.

Rosefolly

I have thrips on other roses that leave the brown streaks (Frederic Mistral has a bad thrips problem), so I say "thrips like insects" when referring to the chewed down buds because they are so tiny, and do a lot of scurrying around. Diane

Has anybody seen Austin's 'Charity' cut rose?
Charity

Wow, those bouquets of Charity are beyond belief in sumptuousness. Imagine the cost in a wedding. About a year ago someone here posted a link to a fashion show that featured a lot of proliferating roses along with the fashions. This condition seems to be in style now. I think it's interesting, in fact. Diane

I've shown this photo before, but it's not the same thing as the eaten down buds I've seen in my garden. Diane

Evelyn and Sarah Bernhardt Peonies

Closer in...

I highly dislike the looks of such roses as Charity with their leafy stamens. I feel they are the pinnacle of 'non-flowery' rose..

This thread may be of interest:

http://www.rosebreeders.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=55287

Here is an update of the bud on my red climbing Eden. There are other buds on the bush that look prefect.