Own Root vs. Grafted Roses: How to Plant, Pros and Cons, What to Buy

It is that time of the year when seed and plant catalogs start arriving at our mail box. Here in this video I am addressing the difference between own root vs. grafted roses, explain what they are, touch on advantages and disadvantages and talk about a new movement in rose selling.
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[@carolboyd6527]

Thank you for this tutorial. I have a garden that is 27 years old and this year my roses have changed. I now understand first hand the differences between own root and grafted, to my great dismay. By all means…ask!

[@tairakhan1984]

I just love you to bits,, great knowledge mixed with common sense and such engaging charm , you are my go to always learning and making mistakes , love love you

[@mickey5779]

You missed to mention that the species, r. multiflora (and sometimes r. laxa), is the ideal understock for bud grafting in cold climates like Canada. These two species are cane hardy and suffer little to no dieback in zone 4-5 winters. On the other hand, Dr. Huey (a species hybrid) isn't the ideal understock for cold climates - yet all tender roses sold in big box stores and garden centers in Canada are grafted on Huey, go figure! Dr. Huey will suffer severe cane dieback to ground level. Although the understock can and does survive, its bud-union/graft is nontheless prone to the vulnerabilities you describe above, where the potential for a decline in basal cane production is a stark reality. Unfortunately, the David Austin company in America grafts on Dr. Huey - an expensive risk to order for cold Canadian areas. As much as I adore Austin roses, I won't grow them grafted on anything else but rosa multiflora. In all my years of growing roses, there have been three exceptions that thrived in my climate grafted on Dr. Huey. When it comes to growing tender varieties, my best performers are all on rosa multiflora. So naturally, I demand that my Austins be graftted on such by Canadian growers.

[@OlgaCarmody]

Good points, all good points! Thank you for sharing!

[@clickityclick5237]

Always the most enlightening and informative videos!

[@elizabethhoude5913]

Wow so informative. Thank you so much!

[@gunmetal2445]

I am from Malaysia and only grow grafted roses due to its lower cost. So far I've only seen one sucker. I can only grow them in pots so I think it helps that I can elevate the bud union above the soil and leave more space for the roots to proliferate in the pot. There's also a growing trend here for rose trees here. I didn't partake because of the higher cost and my garden is too small. But it's interesting to see what they can do with grafting.

[@OlgaCarmody]

I would love to add grafted rose tree to my garden, but in my region I have to really protect the graft union from freezing air, which is not easy. Happy gardening!

[@iwax64]

Really enjoy you style! Trying roses in the humid tropics. R. chinensis and a tea rose. Was worried I buried the grafted part coz I couldn’t ‘t see it but now I know they are own root plants, why and what pros and cons are. Thanks!

[@jowalk80]

Hi Olga, thanks for this video. A lot of people get confused about grafted and own root roses, you did a great job explained it. I have 70+ roses in my garden, both types, sometimes "Hard" to find roses are for sale only grafted, like Palatine Roses used multiflora. I have grafted roses that took longer time to grow full size, I have own roses that grew their full size in one season! A lot depends, the soil, location, sun, water, fertilizer and the type of rose. Love your videos!

[@OlgaCarmody]

Thank you! A lot of people get confused about own root and bare root, believe it or not. What a misunderstanding! I am going to create a video just for those folks, since it is a very easy mistake to clear out. 70+, awwww, what a collection!

[@adalineblythe9653]

Thanks for the detailed video! When I first started researching roses I watched and rewatched any videos liked this. Here in my zone 6 garden I like to bury all my grafted roses. Studies show that, eventually, it CAN turn into own root. I was recently talking to a rose friend from Montana, zone 4. She was telling me how she likes pushing her zone limits. She has zone 5/6 roses in her zone 4 garden. Naturally this works best if you have own root roses. She buries them up to 6” inches deep. Now I’m not sure if that includes mulch or if that is six inches under the soil. She just says… “the roses are never as big as they would be in warmer zones because the stems die back every winter.” It has really diversified her rose choices tho.

[@OlgaCarmody]

I can see how grafted roses can become own root with time, given that the bud union is well burried into the ground. Your rose friend from Montana is brave. I would not like to loose all the canes each year to the ground, but maybe if I would be gardening in zone 4, I would love to have bigger variety of roses to choose from. Happy Gardening!

[@FilmsByMahfuzHossain]

Thanks

[@nadetostaykova]

Hi Olga! I live in zone 5b so I definitely prefer own root roses after learning more about the differences between own root and grafted. Last year I saw your video on this topic after I posted my order, so I was really bummed I didn't use the own root section at the time. To my surprise all the roses I received in the spring were own root, and only the climbers were grafted. I was really happy they sent me own root and got me to think whether they prefer to send those in colder climates in order to avoid issues and warranty claims. 😊

[@OlgaCarmody]

I spoke with DA about this issue, they say that if the order is not specified, they ship what they have. Interesting right? But I would still want to know what I am receiving ahead of time, own root or grafted, if I didn't go for own root.

[@nadetostaykova]

Thanks for the info Olga! So I got very lucky to receive almost all of them in own root. This year I ordered whatever was available as own root. Can't wait for the spring to come and start gardening again! 🌺🌸🌹💮

[@gracestokes3288]

Hi Olga, enjoyed your video, very informative. I live what used to be Zone 6a, recently changed to Zone 6b as our winters have steadily become less severe. I normally buy my roses at local garden centers and they are all grafted. Unfortunately they are not staffed by people that are very rose knowledgable. Planting instructions always say to place the graft union above ground regardless of the zone so that is what I have always done. I have never heard of burying the graft until coming across your video. Over the years I have lost some roses over winter even though they were rated optimal for my zone. I am thinking about replacing some of my plants this Spring that have suffered from terrible black spot and rust as well as aphid infestation. I am trying to find better sources for grafted plants because I want quick results. Can you recommend any particularly reputable U.S. sources? Looking for highly disease resistant, highly fragrant varities that should grow well and thrive in my Zone 6b. I find a lot of the prominent mail order companies to have inadequate plant information and very limited selections. Thank you in advance.

[@ginawong1285]

Own root!!! Dr Huey took over my garden!

[@OlgaCarmody]

Agree, own roots are better for me too!

[@marilynhudson7182]

Hello Dear Olga, I haven't listened to the video yet but I will. Last year my friend ordered 2 bare roots from DA and got an email confirmation saying they were own root. When they arrived they were bare root. I thought that must have been a mistake. This year I ordered 11 bare root from DA and got email confirmation they were own root. I thought they were like the 2 own roots I ordered in the 1qt pots two years ago because they didn't have that one in bare roots. Well, I got on the phone thinking I knew it all and said the website is mistaken. I was informed that they have 3 types. Some are grafted, but if you order bare roots, get a confirmation email your getting own root that is because they are grown on their own roots. I had no idea! 😀

[@OlgaCarmody]

Hi Marilyn, I think there is a confusion going on between bare root and own root. I am creating a video about it. Can't wait for spring to arrive! Our December is sooo mild here, my grass is still bright green outside!

[@Wanpen_Sweden_V1]

🌹❤️💞❤️💞🌹

[@radislav__kovalchuk7468]

Дякую за відео, дуже інформативно,вирощую англійські троянди привиті на лаксу.

[@OlgaCarmody]

You are welcome! My pleasure!

[@southernwind5660]

I love your garden, it is so private, looks like English one.

[@OlgaCarmody]

Thank you, yes, it does have that look, I like it!

[@princeofasgard9301]

I propagate my own roses from cuttings all the time. When I prune my roses around December, I cut green canes that are around 1/2" thick and 20" long. I take out the thorns and pound it into the moist clayey ground with a rubber mallet about 10" - 12" deep. I pretty much leave it alone and around mid-March, signs of life show up and it flowers the same year too. I live in Northern California though so this might not work as well in some other places.

[@OlgaCarmody]

Hi there, yes, your way is a great old fashioned way to propagate roses. My family in Ukraine used to do it all the time. Happy gardening!

[@princeofasgard9301]

@@OlgaCarmody Thank you.

[@ilnpa2722]

Thank you for such informative video! My question is, is it your own experience with the way you planted your grafted rose so deep into the soil, or was it something you learned from a book? I mean no disrespect, I just want to know because every other place I’ve seen the recommend to leave the graft union above the ground without specifying zones differences. It happened to me the way you described, I planted a beautiful hot pink rose and a couple of years later I got ugly single petal burgundy roses, very floriferous and strong growing plant. So I have about eight roses coming next season and I want to be ready. Anticipated thanks for your help.

[@OlgaCarmody]

I got the info from reputable master rosarian and confirmed it with multiple other good sourses. It is a standard practice to protect the bud union in cold climates. Again, it depends on the zone you live in. And do keep an eye on those nasty suckers, you don't want to loose those eight beauties coming into your garden! Good luck and happy gardening!

[@marilynhudson7182]

@@OlgaCarmody Hi Olga, I need to listen to the video before reading the comments but I'm tied up at the moment so please forgive me. My understanding is the sucker and flower she is describing is Dr. Huey, the root stock the rose is grafted to. I apologize if you mentioned that already. PS: I was always told in the south a rose grafted on Fortuniana root stock was best among grafted, but I never had any. It's all very exciting to me so once again accept my apology in advance for making this more of a chat.

[@fabioisidoro5375]

Hi Olga, I read that when the grafting point is deep in the soil the rose produces new roots above the grafting point and when this thing happen the rootstock can be removed. In the video you say that you put the grafting point of your roses under the soil, did your roses produce new roots above the grafting point ?

[@OlgaCarmody]

Hi there, I plant deep because we have unpredictable weather in New England and I want the graft union to be safe underground. And yes, roses produce roots above and under the graft, but why would you want to remove part of the root system?

[@fabioisidoro5375]

@@OlgaCarmody Because without the rootstock, removed after the new roots are born over the grafting point, the suckers will be produced from the grafted rose. Suckers of grafted rose have beautiful stems with a rose at the top and other stems can grow from this suckers; the rose plant produces flowers only on new green stems.

[@georgefarmer8427]

thanks for the video and advices. I have heard from ukrainian and russian growers that if a bud is grafted on lower level on the dog rose (шиповник) it won't have runners. what is your thought about that? thank you.

[@OlgaCarmody]

I really don't know, I never did my own grafting on roses. From what I read, the depth of the union under the soil level has the influence on number of unwanted blind shoots...

[@kimhyesandrama]

Olga can i know what the name of your white climbing rose ?

[@OlgaCarmody]

That is The Generous Gardener. The only negative for that rose is, it drops petals very quickly.

[@kimfox5186]

Is it possible to produce an own root rose from a cutting taken from the grafted rose? If so the impatient Gardener can certainly have their cake and eat it too. Since while admiring their beautiful blooms they know they have a more permanent rose in the making. 🙂

[@OlgaCarmody]

You will produce own root from grafted rose cutting. There can be several issues with that though.

[@kimfox5186]

@@OlgaCarmody 😅 thought it was too good to be true

[@kellyluk73]

@@OlgaCarmody I have the same thoughts as Kim. Can I ask what are the issues with producing own root roses from grafted roses?

[@OlgaCarmody]

@@kellyluk73 2 issues here: some weak or very weak roses do need strong root stock to live, so if you do cuttings, they can be of low health quality. Another issue is, a lot of grafted roses do carry commercial patent on them, which prohibit propagation for around 20 yeas since rose introduction on the market. This rule is for home gardeners too. Many of us don't know about it and do all sorts of propagations and there is no rose police looking around our gardens...

[@southernwind5660]

So, what we are going to do? Did you consider to sale your roses cuttings?

[@OlgaCarmody]

I don’t plan to sell rose cuttings. Majority of my roses do have patterns on them and are not available to be sold legally.

[@milliebutterfly]

I prefer own root roses.

[@OlgaCarmody]

I think we are all moving into that direction. And if a rose variety can't live without a stronger root stock, it should be gone.

[@ELMAGO14]

Is "bareroot same as own root?

[@OlgaCarmody]

No, bareroot is not the same as own root. Bareroot is how roses are shipped to the buyer. Own root is how roses grow in their environment.

[@ELMAGO14]

@Olga Carmody Thank you. I ordered a sweet Juliet and they only offer bare root.