Hello, I know this is not strictly a propagation question, but I figured if someone knows about prop'ng roses they can maybe help. In my 'new to me' garden there is a well established species rose (I assume a rugosa). From below the soil the is what would be a sucker, but it looks like a cultivated rose. I thought that a species rose would have been used as a rootstock, not the other way around. Is it possible that it has just been left for such a long time that the species has taken over as the shrub? Or are the instances where a cultivated rose is used as a rootstock? I want to prune this winter and not sure how to proceed with this dilemna! Any help would be appreciated!
Rugosa roses are sometimes grafted by growers same as their other inventory. There is also the advantage of plants so situated not suckering to form patches or thickets, which the "sea tomato" is apt to do when on its own roots. A down side is that the rootstock used may sometimes not be a compatible variety, with the scion declining after being received and planted out by the end consumer.
