Looks normal to me. It took until the second growing season before it started taking off for my knockouts. I give them Alaska fish fertilizer they love it.

Good morning! Paul Zimmerman lit a torch a few months ago with his fundraiser to support Rose Rosette Disease (RRD) research, which has no cure and is currently impacting roses across the country. I have taken light from that torch to the Rose Geeks community. We are so excited to announce our calendar fundraiser with 100% of the proceeds going to support RRD research. We have included so many beautiful rose pictures from the Rose Geeks community, organic gardening tips, RRD identification, rose pest and disease identification, and the current ROSEGEEK discount codes. The calendar will run from February 2022- February 2023. Thank you for your support! https://www.yearbox.com/calendarsforgood/rose-geek-2022-calendar/.

What variety is it? Some roses are just naturally prone to both vigorous new canes and red new growth. Roses that have just this year really settled in will also throw growth that is more vigorous than in previous years. But I wouldn't call what you have a witch's broom. The real thing is nasty, and slightly creepy. We're talking clusters of sprouts and buds, sometimes as many as 20-30, like a broom...of a witch. The rule of thumb for diagnosing RRD is for the rose to present THREE symptoms. One symptom alone, it's probably normal. Two symptoms, you watch it. Three or more symptoms, it's probably RRD. The symptoms most likely to indicate RRD: Witch's broom growth. Once you've seen the real thing, there's no doubt. Although damage from RoundUp can imitate RRD, you can learn to differentiate it. New growth (other than new canes from the base) larger in diameter than the cane or branch it springs from. This will usually have a witches broom, but not always. Mis-shapen, red new growth that does not turn green within two weeks. If the growth is red, but of normal shape...it's normal, lol. Mis-shapen sexual parts: pistils/stamens, if the buds open at all. The petals will probably be mis-shapen as well. Multiple sprouts from each eye/leaf bud. With RRD all the dormant "extra" buds tend to sprout at once. Extremely rapid growth of just one part of the rose (this does NOT include new canes coming from the base unless they exhibit at least two other symptoms). Over the last 20+ years, I've lost probably 40-50 roses to RRD. I'm not an expert (Ann is THE expert. @stillanntn6b), but I have a degree from the School of Experience...unfortunately. Ann and I live very close to each other, and we both deal with RRD as a regular part of rose gardening. I think your rose will be fine. Watch it, but I'm betting within two weeks the "problem" will resolve itself. EDIT: Oops! How could I forget about the thorns?!?! Ann just rightly reminded me about the excessive/abnormal thorns. Just adding it here in case someone doesn't read down to her post. Quoting Ann: "compare the prickles/thorns on this growth with those from last year. RRD prickles are both denser and often significantly thinner. " I would add that RRD thorns are often not only thinner, but also rubbery, instead of stiff or woody. This is not 100% of the time, but if the thorns do not harden...RRD. I should have also added her caveat about the stipules. This goes hand in hand with the over-activation of the dormant buds. Thanks, @stillanntn6b

Ben: thanks! I searched on rose and roundup and found some photoes just like my friend’s Eden. I know they use roundup for weeds in their garden After a friend confirmed they had RRD on a few knockouts, I become very nervous. I saw a couple new stems shooting from my Graham Thomas, red and very thorny. The leaves look normal so I assume nothing to worry? Leaves look regular The old stems are not thorny though They should be OK? Thanks!