Question
JFK rosebush
Hello. I am not sure what zone I live in, 5 I think. I live in Indiana, about 20 miles south of Indianapolis. I have had my JFK rose for 3 years now. This is the third summer I have had it. The first two years I only got 2 or 3 blooms off of it. I was always told to prune them back at the beginning of winter and cover them. This last winter, I did nothing, and it really filled out this spring. I have many buds, and they were doing well. 2 days ago, I went out to look at it, and all the buds had turned red, and the blooms I have are dark red. Do you have any idea why this happened? They have been white previously.
AnswerYour winters are quite cold for hybrid teas and your JFK has died and the understock has taken over. All roses are budded onto another rose called an understock to give a more tender rose hardier roots in cold climate.. In the States it is usually a rose called Dr. Huey which is a dark red. It is a very hardy rose, hardier than your JFK. So JFK has died and Dr. Huey has grown up in it's place. Dr. Huey is a climber but only blooms once.
