I still buy some on Dr. Huey, mostly from local nurseries. But look into getting roses on own root or multiflora. Palantine roses are on mf and they are great quality. I haven't had any suckers and the rootstock doesn't make that huge graft like Dr. Huey does. I also have some roses on fortuniana, but that is probably too tender for your zone.

I still get some suckers, in fact my Heritage I thought had a nice new cane, but it turned out to be Dr. Huey. And I've had that rose for years. I have to say that the Austins are famous for it. I got rid of Mary Rose for that reason. And I STILL have Dr. Huey in that bed, I can't get rid of it. I think part of my problem was that I did not bury the graft deep enough and that caused a lot of the suckers.

I was under the impression that Dr. Huey growth takes over only when the growth from the graft (and above it) got frozen and died--so that the roots from below the graft started growing in compensation.

I suppose that if the above the graft growth got weakened enough (too little water, or too much sun or disease, perhaps), then the Dr. Huey roots might also start growing.

In which case, moral of story is baby those roses--keep them well-watered and well-fed and healthy.

Kate

ETA: To answer your OP question directly, age has nothing to do with whether or not Dr. Huey takes over, as far as I know. The one case I remember of the Dr. showing up in the spring bloom, it was my big healthy Mortimer Sackler that had been thriving in the spot for 4-5 years! Somehow it got damaged from the cold, limped along half-heartedly blooming for another season, but did not survive the next winter. But Dr. Huey did.

Sara-Ann, do you bury the graft? I live in zone 4 and ALWAYS bury the graft at least 4 inches under the dirt line. I have never had Dr. Huey come up or have it sprout from the graft. Ever. (30 plus years growing roses). Besides that, when you bury the graft, I think it makes basal canes form more readily under the dirt. You know, cozy, dark, moist... I think I'll make a new cane! :)

Rebecca

I see sprouting here without high planting and a killer winter having been involved. Christopher Lloyd wrote about buying grafted roses to get particular cultivars, rooting replacements from cuttings and then discarding the original purchases.

I cannot answer your exact question. But I will add that my personal rule is that I never again buy grafted roses. Own root or no root.

This is the reason why I buy own root, if the plant dies, I prefer a dead plant instead of a Dr Huey. If I do buy bare-root, I always try to start a few new plants from cuttings.

It is because my roses reverted back to rootstock after several years, I went to own root roses. I don't have to worry about replanting my yard again.