# A rose is a rose . . . is a different rose. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452 "2011-06-05T22:38:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452/1 "2011-06-05T22:38:54Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452/2 "2011-06-05T22:43:38Z")
Those are “[suckers](http://gardening.about.com/od/problems/qt/Rose-Suckers.htm),” shoots off of the rootstock. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452/3 "2011-06-05T22:47:01Z")
What **beowulff** said. Hybrid roses are often grafted onto a hardier rootstock. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452/4 "2011-06-05T23:24:26Z")
I thought suckers didn’t bloom; these have many more buds than the originals. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452/5 "2011-06-06T02:25:42Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452/6 "2011-06-06T02:53:27Z")
So, how are the new roses? Are they nice? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-rose-is-a-rose-is-a-different-rose/584452/7 "2011-06-06T04:25:29Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > No, they can bloom prolifically. Usually a burgundy color, with fewer petals than fancy roses. That’s exactly what they are. I’m going to try to get cuttings of the others, and see if I can root them.