Applied Alfalfa Tea: How do I know if it's really Dr. Huey or Blaze?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

A few months ago, many of you introduced me to Alfalfa Tea and reassured me that I might be able to bring some of my roses back to life. I'm happy to report that about 25 of the 30 roses have`anywhere from 2" to 6" of growth. I was so excited until recently someone buzz-killed my enthusiasm by saying that the growth might really be Dr. Huey or Blaze. I don't know which roses were grafted either. Is there any indication to imply that they are in fact DH or B? Many of them have red growth. Thank you in advance!

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pink rose(9b, FL )

5 years ago

My roses are grafted on Fortuniana root stock instead of Dr.Huey or multiflora (suitable for sandy soil) . I have learned to recognize when I see a sucker coming out . First of all it grows from under the graft ( if your graft is buried then you can not tell ) , second is the sucker's new growth is always green unlike the usual red basal breaks , third is that the leaf shape is different from the budded rose's leaf.

I do not have experience of Dr.Huey though .

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Comments (6)

summersrhythm_z6a
5 years ago
Dr Huey is dark red in bloom, Blaze is red. You might have to wait for the blooms to identify.
Chey - 6b Massachusetts thanked summersrhythm_z6a
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I completely agree with Rosefolly. Where I live north of Boston I have seen many examples in people's yards of roses where - regardless of what was originally planted - what is there now is Dr. Huey. In June its dark red/dark red-purple flowers, with a central boss of yellow stamens, is actually quite lovely during its time in bloom. These are roses I'm sure must be virus-infected, but that keep growing & blooming, year after year. It's by no means my favorite rose, but I can definitely see why back in the day it was a popular climbing rose. The wild multiflora roses are an invasive alien species to begin with (they're native to Japan), and since on top of that they are apparently particularly vulnerable to rose rosette disease (which is fatal and for which there is no good treatment), you don't want them near your garden roses, especially if the multifloras are upwind of them! (Yes, I know the multifloras smell nice when they're blooming and that their fragrance travels well, but nonetheless! I grew up in Chester County in Pennsylvania, so I'm well aware of how prevalent Rosa multiflora is in that part of the world.)
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A case of: "when he's good, he's oh so very good and when he's bad, he is horrid", I suppose. Where I live now I'm really appreciating its tolerance of alkaline soil. And it makes such a good rootstock here. The bark is easy to peel up to stick buds, it heals & supports them well, buds "push" vigorously on it, it roots easily... It's probably as hard for me to understand the loathing of Dr. Huey as it is for folks in other zones to imagine me actually paying for Dr. Huey rootstock. sticks. Love this little poem occasionally posted here--I'm so sorry I can't recall the author: Big Box Surprise I am a little coffin rose My roots are very short I sat for months upon the shelf I tried to be a sport The picture on my narrow bag Shows I am very yellow I like the sun; I like the rain I'm quite a handsome fellow She took me home and wet me down And trimmed my moldy roots I sulked for weeks without a bud And then I threw long shoots I looked around at all my kind So orange and gold and mellow I'd be the center of the show The perfect spot for yellow The sun burst forth and out I came With buds so round and dewy I'd played a trick on everyone Ha ha, I'm Dr Huey Mary
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I've known people who grew Huey, and it's sometimes strange to remember that, in its day, it was highly regarded. I actually rather like those Merlot Wine blooms myself. If you ever chance to visit Las Vegas in April, be sure to drive through the older neighborhoods, where hundreds of Dr. Huey's fountain and tumble through the little gardens. The only real bone I have to pick with the Doctor is that he rusts badly, here in CA, unless sprayed. Perhaps he won't do that for you. Some of the other rootstocks that have been used can be pretty lovely, too. If 'De la Grifferaie' was remontant, EVERYONE would want it. Manetti is gorgeous in the spring, and seems to be a pretty bush when out of bloom. Odorata -- well, it mildews here, but where that's not a problem, it's a gorgeous once-blooming, violet-scented tree-scrambler. Fortuniana is a beautiful rambler-type. It's remontant here in our mild climate. Mine came from an old cemetery, where it surely began life as rootstock. It's as big as a bus, these days. And for us, the prize of all of them is 'Gloire des Rosomanes,' ("Ragged Robin") which IMHO should be in every California garden. Jeri
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Be ready for suckers from him under whatever you bud on him. Properly prepared stocks have all the growth buds sliced out of it under the bud union. What you have is either a piece of root which ran under the soil and came up where it wanted, or a piece of root which remained in the soil when something else was dug up. Either way, there are many growth buds down there to produce suckers under what's budded on that plant for as long as you have it. IF you want to bud, root pieces of him after removing all but the top growth bud from each cutting, then bud on those. For the one already growing where it is, treat it as if it's a rose you want and enjoy it. Otherwise, get ready to battle Huey suckers under whatever you bud, because you will have them. Kim
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jazzmom516 (Zone 6b, MA)
5 years ago
Dr. Huey also looks gangly (scrawny) for lack of a better term. I agree, wait for blooms to determine.
Chey - 6b Massachusetts thanked jazzmom516 (Zone 6b, MA)
lkayetwvz5
5 years ago
All my roses that have come back from being killed to the ground this year have new red growth. I know that most them are above the graft or are own root. The growth is slow and steady. Dr. Huey will usually shoot a long cane super fast with the leaves spaced quite aways apart. You can tell the flower will be very dark red IF it blooms this year. Often Dr. Huey will not bloom until the second year. Not sure about the mention about Blaze stock? The old Blaze has flowers that are more of a Knockout red than the Dr. Huey. The Improved Blaze is true red, but still lighter than Dr. Huey.
Chey - 6b Massachusetts
Original Author
5 years ago
@lkayetwvz5 Thank you for your detailed response. I actually have a Dr. Huey, but moved him into a side garden with bad soil. Therefore, I'm familiar with what he looks like. I'm hoping the fact that I have red shoots is a good sign. I would definitely know if it's not the actual rose I purchased because I have invested in old english roses (mostly pinks, peaches, and whites). So waiting for the bloom isn't the issue. I was hoping to see if anyone could help me ID if it's the Dr. Huey or Blaze rose based on the new growth. Plus, I believe Dr. Huey blooms on old growth, correct?
Chey - 6b Massachusetts
Original Author
5 years ago
@pink rose(9b, FL ) Thank you for confirming that Dr. Huey will shoot out green canes. Beyond helpful!

Applied Alfalfa Tea: How do I know if it's really Dr. Huey or Blaze?

pink rose(9b, FL )

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summersrhythm_z6a

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Applied Alfalfa Tea: How do I know if it's really Dr. Huey or Blaze?

pink rose(9b, FL )

Comments (6)

summersrhythm_z6a

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jazzmom516 (Zone 6b, MA)

lkayetwvz5

Chey - 6b MassachusettsOriginal Author

Chey - 6b MassachusettsOriginal Author

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Chey - 6b Massachusetts
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