What is the difference between an own root and grafted rose?Updated 7 months ago
Grafted roses, also called budded roses, are roses that have a top stock variety and a bottom stock variety. The shoots, aka canes, that grow above the ground are a different variety than the roots that grow below ground. The top stock is “grafted” or attached/fused to the bottom stock so they grow together as one plant. Why is this done? The bottom stock variety is grafted to the top stock to make the rose hardier and more healthy. Bottom stock is selected to help the rose, which may not survive well on its own roots, have improved hardiness, disease resistance, and resistance to adverse weather conditions. Grafted roses are harvested when the plant is 2 years old.
Own root roses are roses grown from a single variety cutting that develops its own root system. Unlike grafted roses, both their roots and shoots/canes come from the same variety of plant. Their roots often look like gnarled twisted trees and that is perfectly normal. Own root roses are harvested when the plant is 1-1.5 years old.
To learn more about grafted and own root roses, and which one to choose, check out our blog post Grafted vs. Own Root Bare Root Roses. For more information about the grading system used for grafted and own root roses, visit Q & A with Star® Roses and Plants: A Guide to Own Root Rose Grading.