I live on the coast of Calif. in Zone 10-9. San Diego. Could this unusual dark plum colored growth be from too much pruning? Or from Fungal disease? I live directly on the coast and am new to roses. I read an article that said all fungal infected growth needs to be removed from the plant and ground. My bushes were very infected with Rust and Blackspot so I pruned them all down very short (this fungus appeared in March) I cleaned the ground and applied Funginex. Since then, they are all showing growth, (some with all green leafs, and all with buds) but some are coming back with very dark plum colored leafs (they also have buds). I've seen plum colored leaves on them before, but never to this extent. A couple of the bushes are none but these dark purple leaves.

Any help is appreciated.

 

Hi Laura Lee,

I'm afraid I have bad news! Your roses have a disease called rose rosette. It is caused by a mite.

I lost 10 shrub roses to this last year. The red/purple leaves and canes grow differently than the other canes. You can spot them the minute they appear. Those stems developed little rosebuds, but they never opened. They just turned brown. I pruned them off as they appeared, but they kept coming. I finally found a site that said there is nothing that can be done, and the disease will spread to your other roses. I felt lucky to save what I could. It did travel on down the line.

I notice the first site below mentions a spray for this mite, but that if the odd canes keep growing to dispose of the rose. Do not put it on your compost pile if you decide to do that. I didn't try a spray. Mine had so many of these strange canes, that I dug them up.

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/...ardening/10926
http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/rosediseases.htm

Whatever you do--do it NOW!

Gami

[Edited by Gami on 05-24-01 at 09:01]

 

Wait!

Before you destroy your plum-leaved roses, make sure that they have the mite that Gami is talking about. Look with a magnifying glass or check for the other symptoms.

There are varieties of roses (I have one) where the new growth is purplish red. It's really quite attractive. As the leaves and stems mature, they eventually turn green. But while they are young and tender, they are a striking purple/red.

Check out the links Gami mentions to make sure you have this disease before you remove what could be really nice roses.

Good luck!

 

You're right, Leu!

I apologize Laura. By all means, check first. The mites, however, are very tiny.

It's very obvious that it is different from the normal, healthy, new growth of the rose. I sure hope you don't have it.

I was able to find a good photo of what the diseased stems look like -

http://www.markw.com/rrdimages.htm

Gami

[Edited by Gami on 05-24-01 at 02:45]

 

Hi Laura,

Some other sites with more photos -

http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/plantdisease/g980.htm
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioli...3000/3063.html
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/ext...s/roserost.htm

Gami

 

Thank you Gami and Leu,

I think some of the bushes probably do have the virus. One might be like you said Leu, and have purple-red new growth. I have never pruned so much (to bare cane about 8" long) or so late. I usually have roses year round. I"ve only had roses for about three years and love them so much. I am determined to learn more about them.
Thanks again for your help and for the website info!