Roses: Roses in the USA: grafting and rootstocks

Since there appears to be a gap of knowledge about the way roses are produced commercially in the US, I thought I would start a new thread that could be easily referenced. I would also love to hear about ways the issue is handled in other countries (especially in Europe: specifically UK and France and Germany, where much of the significant hybridizing work is done).

Plants that are imported into the US from overseas must go through strict quarantine measures. Generally you can find all the details through US Customs or USDA. In order for a hybridizing company to be able to release his newest (and previous) named roses in US, he must first go through all the quarantine regulations with the importing nursery. This generally takes 2-3 years. Then the importer must increase the stock to have enough to make it worthwhile commercially. Almost always the wholesale nursery over here finds it is faster and more inexpensive to bud the graftwood onto rootstock, then grow them on for 1-2 years.

It is possible for private US citizens to import plants directly from international nurseries, but it is a very involved process, and almost everyone finds it much more trouble than it is worth.

So US roses are grown on easily-available rootstocks after the budwood has been imported and satisfied everyone that no pests or diseases have been imported along with the plants.

Most modern repeat-blooming exhibition-style roses do not grow well on their own roots. After all, the aim of the hybridizers has been to make bigger and better flowers, not bigger and better roots! So something usually has to give. Modern Shrub roses usually are on their own roots; many OGRs also are on their own roots. Some mail-order nurseries are committed to own-root roses, some choose to not make it an issue. In the long run, most of the buying public don't care, as long as the plant itself does well.

I recently went to hear a lecture by Holly Shimizu (Victory Garden) on "Great Roses for your Garden". She mentioned during her talk that roses do better on their own roots, NOT grafted. Apparently, roses are healthier and less disease prone.

The other thing, Shirley is that an own root rose can die down to the earth and come back the next season! When a rose grows on it's own in the soil, there is less tendency to develop less disease than a grafted one, yes...that would depend upon the strength and tenaciousness of that plant to begin with..one can do a cutting of say, the floribunda, Iceberg and the wimpy stems will still come true! The reason I mention this rose in particular, is because in some zones it does just great and others, fungal diseases..now, you take a cutting of a stronger stemmed rose, such as Westerland and the plant to come is so strong, when it finally develops! We are finding out in the rose world, that many grafted root growers, are turning to own root! Yes, in the US particularly..As lupine has mentioned, certain understocks are used in different parts of the world..Rosa Laxa is the rootstock that Britain uses, yet in Europe(France, Germany and the like), use Rosa Canina(this one superceded R.Laxa) But right now the biggest worry of all in seeding understock for grafts....is Virus! You can read about this in the American Rose Society site..I could go on and on, re this particular subject"own root versus ?????? hope this helps the forum a bit! Elaine

Interesting subject. Forgive me, I'm too tired to post tonight but will keep lurking and learning. I do know of one really famous nursery that does send to the States and I used to live not far from it.

http://www.classicroses.co.uk/default.htm

Hi! My dad is interested in buying a bunch of red rosa rugosas. Where can I find some to buy?
Thanks.
Debby