Question
Hello - I have a Cecile Brunner flowering profusely at the moment, and have noticed that there are new flower buds forming from the centre of the flowers. This is the first real flush of flowers I've had from this plant and am unfamiliar with this growth pattern. Is this normal ?? Many thanks for your time, Jane in south eastern Australia

Answer
What you describe is an excellent example of proliferation in a rose. The reason for proliferation in garden roses is not fully understood. The effect is usually noticed when a rose bud tries to form within a flower that has already opened. Often, a stem with unfurling leaves could grow out through the flower with the bud at the end of it. Proliferation in roses has been known for centuries.
The disease is now supposed to be due to either a hormonal imbalance brought about by the act of budding, or by a pathogenic micro-organism occurring in low concentration in affected tissue or disappearing from it after the onset of the pathological process. Certain weather conditions can also encourage the problem. You probably won't see it again but if you do then the rose cultivar is one that is prone to it if conditions are right.