Question
When we moved into our house 12 months ago, we inherited one rose bush which was not well-cared for.  Since we moved into the house in the fall and there were no blooms on the bush, we were unable to identify the type of rose. (FYI, we are in Rye, NY, in zone 6a.)

I pruned it early this past spring (leaving 5 branches approx 3' high), mulched and fertilized lightly, and it responded with superb growth, shooting to well over 8' tall on some of the canes, and producing several new canes from just above the soil level. However, there were no blossoms at all, although the growth continued all summer long. Now, of course, I suspect that it's a type that blooms on old canes or 2nd year canes - although it's possible that I over-fertilized (tried hard not to) or that some of the new ground-level canes are suckers from the original root-stock (although it doesn't look that way to me).

Without flower blossoms, what's the best way to identify the class of roses that this belongs to? I'd like to treat it well this winter and the spring to see if I can get at least SOME blossoms out of it next year, and if I can figure out if it's a floribunda or hybrid tea or something else, at least I'd know where to start!  The roses I planted myself nearby are doing very well, and I've taken it as somewhat of a challenge to identify and nurture this plant.

Any advice is appreciated.

Regards,
Patrick


Answer
From your description it appears that the rose is very vigorous or it could be a climber. Some climbers do not grow over 10 feet tall. Also, you are right in that it could bloom on second year wood. Some climbing roses bloom mainly on the tops of the canes if they are not bent over to activate the laterals. So you could also be cutting off the flowers.
Hybrid teas usually have very stiff canes that tend to grow upright. Floribundas have canes that are thinner and more of them. Suckers can be easily identified by digging down alongside of the bush to see if they are coming from below the buded area. However if it is budded onto Dr. Huey, the canes will look like a modern rose. There is also another possibilty in that the top rose has died and now you are growing Dr. Huey. Dr. Huey is a climber which has smaller semi double deep red flowers and grows to about 8 feet. It is a very hardy rose and has been used for many years in the States. If it does bloom and the flowers are red then you have Dr. Huey. Next year I would not give it any nitrogen as it is making lots of new growth at the expense of flowers, as a rose can't do both. Also don't prune it but if possible try to bend the canes as this will block some of the growth hormones from going all the way to the top. Hope this helps. Lynnette