Roses are typically grafted onto a rootstock, but in the case of a rose tree, the standard that Ron is talking about is what is grafted onto the rootstock. The rose bush, of which you will see the blooms, is then grafted onto that standard or trunk, and it will typically have a rounded shape, but some have a lovely weeping shape. They take longer to produce, and thus are more expensive. Since you write from Michigan, please know that these are more tender than grafted roses, in part because the second graft is entirely exposed to the elements. You could grow one there, but you would have to bring it into the garage for the winter or bury the entire tree during dormancy.
Many thanks to Ron and Laurie for the helpful responses. The difficulty growing these and the cold Michigan climate explains why I haven't seen any around here, though I am sure that someone probably has grown them successfully, even in these cold winters. Again, this is a wonderful site and I deeply appreciate the help.
