Very interesting. Do you have acid or alkaline soil? In my location with its alkaline soil, I'd expect, and do see, Dr Huey grafted roses that produce more and larger blooms with a little better color than multiflora grafted roses. There are exceptions, though. Augusta Luise and Ascot seem way beyond most of the other multiflora grafted in my garden. Diane

Diane, these are roses I planted in large pots. I used Miracle Gro Potting Mix and have applied some Osmocote. I didn't plant any Dr. Huey grafted in the ground, I did plant a few multiflora that way, they’re doing about the same as the potted ones. I’m not sure about my soil type, I should have it tested.

It doesn't sound like soil type has much to do with it if the roses are mostly in pots. I think potting mix is slightly acid. Supposedly, Dr Huey likes alkaline soil better. I don't know what to believe. I do think there are some differences in certain roses that are own root compared to grafted roses. Diane

I don’t know what to think either, Diane. The majority of my established roses have taken on a growth spurt this year. Some of the stand outs, EASY DOES IT, TWILIGHT ZONE and my Austins that have taken on a growth spurt are all Dr. Huey. Julia Child and Souvenir de la Malmaison are on multiflora.

The potting mix being more acidic than alkaline might be what has made the difference.

The bareroot roses (12) I got from Home Depot earlier this year and planted the end of April are loaded with buds and several are in bloom now. These roses are labeled as: "Grown in the USA" but then it says "Potted in British Columbia, Canada." I would assume from the zone 3 and zone 4 hardy roses I picked that they are grafted on multiflora. But I have an Alexander Mackenzie that came from Canada many years ago that grew up over my gutters and onto the porch roof that was grafted onto Dr. Huey. Although I would tend to agree that multiflora rootstalk is hardier I guess you can not say it is always the case. I've been a lot of help haven't I?!?!?!

Can someone tell me how you know which rootstock you have?

Sara-Ann, congrats on pulling the roses through the winter regardless of the rootstock. In looking over your list, I have or have grown all of them and on the whole I'd say the ones you have on Dr. Huey with the exception perhaps of Neptune and your probable Neil Diamond are less hardy than those on multiflora - those two are the only one of that group that I can overwinter at all in zone 5. Whereas the ones on multiflora are almost all root hardy if not cane hardy except for perhaps Brigadoon and Crescendo. That doesn't mean the multiflora isn't giving them a little added boost, but there are also contributions from the vigor of the rose itself.

Madakatude, mostly we judge the type of rootstock by where we bought the rose. If you bought it grafted from one of the Canadian sellers (Palatine, Hortico, or the late great Pickering), these were multiflora. If you bought it grafted from most other US vendors, or at a big box store or local nursery, it's probably Dr. Huey. The other type of rootstock is Fortuniana, which is sold at a couple of mail order nurseries and it doesn't survive well in cold zones, so odds are you don't have that one. There are other rootstocks used here and there in old established roses or smaller nurseries (Ragged Robin for instance was used historically), but the two Sara Ann discussed are the most common. If the rootstock sends up shoots on its own, Dr. Huey will be a dark red once bloomer with scraggly canes, and multiflora will be small white flowers with lots of thorny scraggly canes.

Cynthia

Cynthia, was wondering this question again and remembered that I asked it already. So once upon a time Dr Huey was so beautiful in the front of my house and I couldn't believe I had something so beautiful there. Couldn't remember what I planted and when I did Name that rose somebody told me Dr Huey but they did say exactly what it was. I kept it because it gives off such a show but this last winter it took a beating and now I'm thinking about putting my new Florentina in it's place. That's coming from J& P. I always bury my bud unions and now stuff I thought was dead that isn't could be more Dr Huey... I'm just rambling here. I guess there's no way to avoid that scenerio in our zones. Roses reverting back to rootstock! Sucks

Below you can see how Dr Huey has dwindled. Wish I had a pic from 2 years ago when it was covered in blooms.

Last Year

This Year

Does everyone usually just get rid of these?