If someone asked you to name your favorite flower, what would your answer be? Would it be an iris, a carnation, a sweet smelling lilac, or perhaps a gardenia, an orchid or even a black-eyed Susan? Although these are all eye catching and/or likeable, each would probably get a few votes. But the odds are pretty great that the flower name that would first pop into your mind and off your tongue is the one that grabs attention from a vast majority of American people. The majority consequently, or even subconsciously, would probably say, "Rose."
Roses are popular blossoms for almost any occasion, a wedding, a gift to your mom, one for that special sweetheart or a special remembrance to a friend in a time of joy or sorrow. The brightness of America's favorite flower always gives a lift of spirit.
The colors and fragrances of roses appeal not only to master gardeners but also to beginning rose gardeners. A rose, properly cared for, whether it blooms once or twice a year or year-round as do the now-popular knock out roses," has its special characteristics. A rose bush started from a cutting that takes root under a Mason jar can hold a special place as a remembrance of a special friend or occasion. There is already the special "American Beauty" rose which could properly share that name with the particular blossom that you think is perfect.
Just where is this 'Cuff going? The rest of the 'Cuff is about something that may be well known by rose gardeners, but which may be new news to others. It involves a headline in "Best Times," a small publication from Johnson County, Kansas, that caught my attention. The headline simply read: "rose rosette changes landscape." Rose rosette. What's that? The 'Cuff which follows explains:
An article written by Dennis Patton, horticulture agent at Johnson County's K-State Research and Extension Office, goes into great detail about a viral rose disease that "has reached epidemic proportions in the Kansas City area." After reading the article, it hit me between the eyes, the incurable disease has already found its way into the area, even into the writer's backyard.
Excerpts from the article explain the disease is transmitted by wind-blown mites which carry the rose rosette virus which can be the death-disease for any type of rose bush. It is no respecter of any of the countless number of rose types.
Symptoms of the disease are easy to identify, the article notes. New growth on roses will include dark red or purplish leaves and stems. The growth can create what is known as a witches'-broom effect. Webster's describes witches' broom as an abnormal growth on small branches of a plant caused by fungi or virus. The leaves curl, then die. And as the virus takes over the entire plant, it dies.
That description really hit home. Several days ago I noticed the fatal signs on a spring-blooming, old-fashioned rose planted in our backyard some 20 years ago. In just a few days, that large healthy plant became a skeleton of reddish-purple growth which turned brown. Similarly infected plants have been discovered in several other places in town. What to do?
The article noted there are no known control measures, no chemical controls, no way to prevent or eradicate the disease once it has affected a plant. Chemicals to control black spot or aphids or other such diseases simply will not work. Spraying or pruning will not help, so the only control measure is to remove the plant and destroy it. This may help control the spread of the disease. Even planting a replacement rose is ineffective since the new plant is susceptible to attack by the virus.
Mr. Patton's article suggests replacing with another blossoming plant which, although not a rose, can provide some degree of color through the spring, summer and fall months depending on the plant choices. Those include butterfly bushes or crape myrtles -- both have several colors -- or perhaps a panicle hydrangea which, through a white flower, can provide some brightness in a summer garden.
As noted earlier, serious rose growers may already be aware of rose rosette, but others may not have heard of it. Patton relays how such a virus can quickly destroy isolated bushes or entire rose beds and he repeatedly warns, "Just cutting out the infected branches does not remove the disease." Being on the lookout for symptoms of the disease is really important, and taking such action helps curb spread of the disease.
This information was supplied by neighbors Bessie and Don Runyan. Their daughter Denise, whose home is in the KC area, brought them the small magazine which contains the article. Information is available online, and nursery personnel may be helpful.
Coming in the next 'Cuff? A grizzly story.
Dodie Evans is the former owner and longtime editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 06/21/2017