Kristine, the second photo shows the spots, which I would ignore for now--I've done it and the spots disappear. In you first photo, I can't tell if it's a solid brown area or spots. I'd just prune as normal and wait on all of it. There's plenty of time to change your mind. Diane

Diane, the first picture is a solid purple

My Sweet M has purple splotches too. I assume aaaa it's a reaction to. cold temps

The advice I would follow is still the same as above. Diane

I will give it time to see how she does. Thanks Diane.

Thanks Librarian, that is good to know. She has only been in the ground for a few years and I never noticed this mottled appearance before. I do have it on several other roses but not to this extent. Hopefully it is the crazy freezes.

Kristine I just checked my SM and she is also a purple splotchy mess!

Wow ! That is so crazy! Mine is in the middle of several other roses and none of them have those blotches.

I guess that it is kind of comforting that it seems common to Sweet Mademoiselle. Thanks for checking on yours Oursteelers.

My Perfume Delight (bought it twice) got that in the spring...and I don't think it went away. I tossed them both. Probably was a mistake.

Hi Kristine! My SM is in a spot with a lot of sun but minimal protection from wind during the winter. I got those purple blotches/spots the second year in with her. She has continued to grow and do well ever since. This will be my 5th spring with her, and she is arguably still one of my healthiest roses. The shoots that come from the blotched canes look normal, but then I’ve found the will get it too, eventually. I assumed it was some degree of black spot or something. Regardless, it doesn’t seem to affect the roses in any way.

Rachel, I had it on my Sweet Mademoiselle last year and it didn't seem to affect it and it seems like it is common on this rose. It sure looks ugly though doesn't it.

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gremlins like me, too, Moses. 🙄

I'm excited forfor your Sweet M.

I hope mine has a great season this year. I got it aas a band two years ago and it's taken it's timetime to get established.

My SM was new last year and didn’t do much but this spring, even without any heat yet, has been growing like crazy, ugly splotchy canes and all!

Oursteelers, lol! This is year 3 for mine so it should really settle in and show off.

Moses - I'm glad you're not giving in to the gremlins. :) :)

It's probably a manifestation of black spot on the canes. I like the advice from Jason at Frazer Valley Rose Farm. My interpretation of it was ... the black spot will be in your garden whether you cut the canes or not. So if you have one or two canes like that, you might cut them out to protect unaffected canes and roses. But if the majority of your canes look like that, there's not much point in cutting them back. You can still clean out spotty leaf litter, and do some judicious spraying of copper fungicide or similar, if cleanup doesn't keep it under control.

Steve , the leaves have been absolutely clean, zero black spot.

It seems like after hearing from others that grow Sweet Mademoiselle that this is common in that rose . Do you grow this one? Does yours have clear canes?

No, I don't grow that one, so my observation was just based on the general appearance of the canes. Nor do I really have a lot of trouble with black spot ... but my specific location is rather dry and not heavily vegetated. I imagine that people down the road from me might have more trouble with it.

As for your specific plant, if there is no damage to any leaves, then maybe it is just cold damage in this case. I would probably let it ride and see what happens, if it was my plant.

Steve, thanks. This is year 3 and I noticed it last year. It just seems worse this year but it hasnt seemed to affect the growth or the blooms

I hate to say it but I am already thinking about what would get to take her space if she didn't work out lol

I was told that it was Downy mildew on the canes when mine showed those purple blotches. I did not se any problems on leaves. That discolor came on with the cool wet weather. It spreads to other plants. The first time I saw it was on a newly purchased sugar moon. I discarded it and the next year I bought another one. Same problem again.