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Is Margaret Merrill likely to have been grafted?

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
There's a shoot emerged from a slightly knobbly bit just above soil level and I'm wondering if it might be a sucker.  The leaves haven't opened yet so I can't compare them.
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Yes Mags will have been grafted, all roses in Europe are, unless you grew her yourself from a cutting (in which case, no possibility of suckers as there is no root stock to sucker). If the new shoot is at or above the graft union (knobbly bit) it is more likely a new basal shoot and not a sucker. Maybe wait and see a bit just to be sure - suckers are usually green and often thornless whereas basal shoots, the ones you want, are often red-tinged.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    The shoot is definitely red and I'll hope for thorns. It's the one I rescued from being embedded in the patio so I'm a bit 'precious ' about it. It has wonderful scent. I nearly said amaaaazing - oops.
    Thank you @Nollie
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Sounds as if you are safe there then. She is meant to have an am*zing scent, so we’ll probably let you off. Just this once, mind 😊 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    😉
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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