Hello, dear gardener!
Suppose you’re growing grafted roses in your garden (and chances are, you are). In that case, you’re already enjoying the best of both rose worlds: the gorgeous blooms of your favorite variety on top and a hardy, disease-resistant root system below. It’s a remarkable union—until the rootstock sends up its own wild shoots or your blooms turn into hips instead of more flowers.
Let’s learn how to manage these issues so your roses stay healthy, beautiful, and bursting with blossoms all season.
What Is Rootstock and Why It Matters
Grafted roses are made by combining two rose plants into one. The roots and lower stem (the rootstock) usually come from vigorous wild rose species like Rosa canina or Rosa multiflora. The top part (the scion) is the variety you chose for its stunning blooms and fragrance.
The rootstock’s job is to support your rose with strength and resilience. But sometimes, it tries to take over. This usually happens when the rootstock sends up its own shoots, called suckers. These can quickly sap energy from your beautiful rose and take over the whole plant if ignored.
How to Identify Rootstock Suckers
Spotting suckers early is the key to keeping your grafted rose in balance. Here’s what to look for:
Where it grows:
- Suckers usually sprout from below the graft union—that bump or knot near the base of the rose bush.
- They might even pop up from the roots underground!
How it looks:
- Leaves are more minor, duller, and often have seven or more leaflets (instead of the usual five).
- Stems grow fast, are extra thorny, and may arch or sprawl.
- If allowed to flower, the blooms are often single and pale—nothing like the lush flowers of your chosen rose.
Garden tips
If you’re not sure, follow the stem downward. If it starts below the graft or from the root area, it’s a sucker.
How to Remove Rootstock Suckers Properly
Removing suckers is a bit like a wedding: do it thoroughly, or they’ll be back in no time.
Step-by-Step Sucker Removal:
1. Find the source:
Gently clear away soil to locate where the sucker originates.
2. Cut it close:
Use clean, sharp pruners or a garden knife to remove it as close to the root or stem base as possible. No stub should remain!
3. Don’t tear:
Never rip or break off suckers—it can damage the root system and encourage regrowth.
4. Check back regularly:
During spring and summer, inspect the base every few weeks. Catching suckers early is key to control.
Garden tips
For newly planted roses, keep the graft union slightly above soil level to make spotting suckers easier. But in colder climates, you can bury it just an inch or two for winter protection—just be extra vigilant for suckers.
What Are Rose Hips and Why Should You Care?
Rose hips are the seed-filled fruits that form after a rose finishes blooming and gets pollinated. While beautiful and sometimes used in teas or herbal remedies, they tell your rose: “Job well done—no need to bloom again.”
That’s a problem if your goal is continuous flowering.
How to Prevent Rose Hip Formation
Keep your rose in bloom mode with these tips:
Deadhead like a pro:
Cut off spent blooms before hips can form. Snip just above a five-leaflet leaf pointing outward.
Prune with purpose:
Regular pruning keeps your rose healthy and encourages new flowering stems instead of seed production.
Avoid stress:
Roses under drought, disease, or pest pressure are more likely to form hips.
Water consistently, feed with organic compost and mulch to retain moisture.
Watch the weather:
Leaving a few hips in late summer or fall is okay to signal the plant to slow down for winter. But during the primary growing season, deadhead diligently.
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Bonus Garden Tips
- Use a dab of cinnamon on freshly cut sucker wounds—it’s a natural fungicide.
- If you notice ants near the base, check for aphids. Pest stress can also trigger rootstock growth.
- Add a collar of compost around the base of your rose to keep roots cool and promote scion dominance.
FAQ: Most Asked Questions About Rootstock and Rose Hips
What’s the difference between a sucker and a basal shoot?
Basal shoots grow from the graft union or just above it and are healthy new growth from your chosen rose. Suckers come from below the graft or roots and should be removed.
Can rootstock flowers be beautiful?
Not really. Rootstock blooms are often small, single, and pale—not the showy flowers you bought the rose for.
Should I cut off rose hips if they have already formed?
Yes, especially during the blooming season. Removing hips redirects energy back to flower production.
Why do suckers keep coming back after I cut them?
If not obliterated at their base, suckers will regrow. Ensure you cut right where they emerge from the root or main stem.
Is it okay to let some hips grow in the fall?
Absolutely. Letting hips form in autumn tells the plant to slow its growth, helping it prepare for winter dormancy.
Can a sucker eventually take over the whole plant?
Yes! The rootstock can dominate if unchecked, and your rose may lose its original blooms entirely.
In Closing
Grafted roses are the best in beauty and strength, but they need a little help staying on track. Regularly removing rootstock growth and preventing the formation of rose hips during the flowering season will keep your rose focused on what you love most: producing breathtaking, fragrant blooms.
Your roses will thank you with color, fragrance, and a garden that’s a joy to walk through daily.
—
With love from my rose garden to yours,
Ann Devis
Rose gardening books
Explore rose gardening books and garden planner by Ann Devis. Get practical tips, organic techniques, and insights to create and maintain a stunning, thriving rose garden.
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