So sad! Perhaps a gopher ate the roots?

I don't know, but I couldn't dig it out of the ground to get a look at the roots. It's been there a long time. Oh well it happens I guess.

What a sad thing to happen to this beautiful rose. I also wonder whether it was animal damage.

You need to get another one. I may have this rose, but am not sure because it came misnamed. I'm sorry for the loss: it's a shock to lose a healthy mature rose, as they're usually bombproof.

I don't know if it will send up new canes or not. It's in the ground pretty good, I couldn't loosen it up at all with a pitchfork. I wish I knew what happened I don't want it to happen to any of my other roses. Although this is the first time something like this has happened in 18 years of growing them.

Thanks guys!

Was the plant grafted, Ray? Maybe the graft failed. My husband wondered if the plant was girdled by voles is another idea.

Hi Sheila. It was own root. Could have been voles I'm not sure.

For now I put a piece of rebar where the plant was and tied some of the canes from Complicata to it so it doesn't look like a hole in the garden.

Sure will miss it this summer.

Since it was own root, I would just make sure that area has water, and see what happens in the next few months. It might come back. Can you pls take pictures of the damage, especially the ends of the broken canes? Someone might be able to figure out what happened so you can guard against it in the future.

Jackie

Here are some pictures, the last picture is what's left in the ground.

It is coming back!

Oh my goodness, what a great update!! I was truly sad for your rose-loss. Thank goodness you left it in the ground!

I was too! It will take years to get back to what it was but there are two new canes coming back, really happy about this!

Happy for you, but not surprised as the plant is ownroot. It will grow faster than a baby would with a massive root system already in place.

Is your cane damage possibly from disease? I was wondering from the pictures, as they don't look like gnawing or the breakage of healthy canes. I'm no expert, though, and would like to hear from others.

The canes were very woody and a few years old, the ones that looked suspicious to me. The other canes turned a dark brown and were younger so not as woody.

Thank you Melissa!

That is so odd. Voles? What kills the tops leaving roots intact?

I wish I knew Sheila. The two roses on either side look great.