What makes a "climbing rose" change colors after 5 years, from coral to red? The petals are also smaller.
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A lot of the climbing roses are grafted onto the common red climbing rose because of their hardiness. I've never had one that was a graft stay true. They all seem to revert back; either that or in pruning you end up gutting back past the grafts so all the new stuff that comes out is on the old wood.
the grafted-on portion died back and the root stock took over.. it happens with roses all of the time.. more commonly on hybrids, but the climbers will do that as well. Usually it comes from improper pruning or a fungus/insect issue with the grafted rose. An unusual weather change (late freeze) can do it, too.
the root stock is generally a LOT hardier than the tops of roses..
Delcy--you have the plants for 5 years and you have not done soil sampling all these years to preserve your climbing roses. Your not an amateur at a flower garden especially roses. Are you happy with the red or do you want the coral color.
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