Saturday, June 8, 2013

Does My Climbing Rose have Witches Broom? ..Rose Rosette Disease (RRD)

Was feeding the roses this morning, and much to my horror, I saw this on my Altissimo rose.  I rushed off to the Co-op to get Sevin and spray down the roses so it didn't transfer.  I went over to the museum and looked at the stormy weather and noticed that it had similar canes.  Altissimo is a strange rose so before I condemn it to death, I need to identify if it is witches broom because I notice climbers will look like this and the red is new growth generally.  Over the winter it almost looked black when it had new growth.





I found this publication on line. Click HERE I find that climbers look like this when they have new growth...so Is it witches broom?

8 comments:

Jean Campbell said...

What did you see besides the red color that made you think "witches broom" or Rose Rosette?

Cerberus German shepherds said...

Very good question.....and here is a ignorant counter question...does it make a red rosette. The Altissimo rose has been a "strange bird" for me. Climbers seem to have different characteristics...for instance, during late winter..Altissimo got so dark it almost looked black..I thought it was dead. Later I felt it was its way of coming out of dormancy. Also, this cane that ( I have already cut off) seemed to be a sucker...( I believe that is what you call it when you think it is coming from the rootstock. I have opted to leave it and watch....I think I am just hypersensitive to the concept. I did spray with sevin (and of course, it rained) because it is my understanding that is what kills the mites that transfer it.

Jean Campbell said...

It is my understanding that the disease causes the leaves and stems to be deformed with many litle stems and twisted leaves. Maybe you caught this before it got past just looking 'different.'

I read that one of the things you see that isn't ordinary is a lot of extra thorns -- in your photo I couldn't tell if many thorns were characteristic of the rose in ordinary circumstances.

Where did you get this rose?

Cerberus German shepherds said...

You are probably right. The rose I believe I bought at Home Depot late last summer. Again, it is the strangest rose I have for a variety of reason. I am going to hold and keep an eye on it.

Jean Campbell said...

I think you'll know for sure if it blooms again.

HolleyGarden said...

Janie - it does *not* look like RRD to me. That looks like new growth to me. Of course, it might look differently in person. Just keep an eye on it!

Unknown said...

I have the same thing also on my altasimo ...maybee it's just the way they r?

Cerberus German shepherds said...

I have made that mistake many times...it's easy to confuse vigorous new growth for disease.