About five years ago I planted some climbing rose bushes with pale pinkish-orange-colored flowers. Each year there have been a moderate number of blossoms in that color. This year, however, the branches are filled with hundreds of buds, producing smaller blossoms that are deep red. I’m not doing anything differently this year, and the only difference in weather has been above-average rainfall. So what could account for this change?
Those are “suckers,” shoots off of the rootstock.
What beowulff said. Hybrid roses are often grafted onto a hardier rootstock.
I thought suckers didn’t bloom; these have many more buds than the originals.
No, they can bloom prolifically. Usually a burgundy color, with fewer petals than fancy roses.
So, how are the new roses? Are they nice?
That’s exactly what they are. I’m going to try to get cuttings of the others, and see if I can root them.