Until this year most of our roses have been grafted as opposed to being grown on their own rootstock.  Simply put, grafting is done by bonding a particular plant to the roots of a different variety.  Last year I spoke of the wild roses growing from the rootstock of a grafted “Mr. Lincoln” rose on our front fence.  The grafted upper portion had died, yielding to a vigorous rootstock.

    In previous times we have occasionally had roses grown on their own roots, but all of our Jackson & Perkins roses have been grown on grafted root stock.  I presume this was considered quite an improvement in the modern growing of roses.

    This year, J&P (Jackson & Perkins) introduced a line of classic roses grown on their own rootstock.  Out of our 1,600 roses, a smattering were on their own root.   Among these varieties were “Double Delight”, “Mr. Lincoln”, and “Peace”.  These are 3 classic roses, which are virtual requirements in the rose garden.  Having potted these plants in the nursery for many years at Roxbury, I feel I have some knowledge of their vigor.  We have grown these varieties from Stark Brothers Nursery, Conard-Pyle, and Jackson & Perkins.  This is my first year of observing them in our nursery on their own rootstock.

    Jackson & Perkins seems to have chosen a few “classic” plants for market experiment.  My observation thus far has been that these plants do not put on a fraction of the show that the might have displayed had they been grafted.  While we really need 2 or 3 years to determine their true growth habits, the rooted plants are far less marketable than the more vigorous grafted roses of the past.  The jury is still out with me.

    I believe that J&P has test marketed their most reliable sellers to see how they would be received. It is notable that the newer varieties are still grafted, yielding impressive first year plants.  The upside of “own root” plants is that they will all be true to their parentage.  I think J&P is testing the market, while taking no chances with the newer stuff.

    Ten years from now you may see all roses grown from their own rootstock.  If these roses perform well in the long run, look for this to happen.  Market wise, this approach might be a “flop”, in which case you will see a return to grafted roses.  Give J&P credit for trying, but the first year product sure looks mighty puny in comparison to what we are used to.

    While the plant may be superior in the long run, the “own root” plants might be a failure in the marketplace.  I would not hesitate to try some of these newer plants which have not been grafted.  “How many traditionalists does it take to change a light bulb?  One to change it and 6 to talk about how good the old one was.”  Until next week.