Last year, my father told me that one of his shrub roses rooted next to the bush by branch layering, and did I want the new plant? Sure! He dug it up and I planted it in my garden in one of the better spots, full sun. I have precious few of those.

This spot was previously a no-mans land, under the canopy of several big maple trees and an oak, pretty much filled with weeds. I had cleaned it out best I could over the past couple years so it was presentable, but couldn't really grow much there. Too much shade, too many roots. I just wanted it to be weed free, at least. When the property owner unexpectedly took several trees down it became a great sunny spot! Whoo-hoo! I now had a place to plant some roses.

I had spent the prior spring and summer building new beds elsewhere as I had the year before, and did not work much in this section of the yard. I did not know the trees were coming down so I was not prepared for some nice full sun beds. Instead, I used it as "nursery" area for some arbor day trees, a few divisions from my dad's house and pot ghetto. I had no formal plan for this area yet and had many other garden projects in the works so I spent little time there. Basically, that bush went pretty much unnoticed, but seemed to do okay.

This spring that area is priority. I have several roses I grew from cuttings two winters ago in pots waiting to be planted and have a better idea of what I want this area to look like.

Our winter was mild and some things never truly went dormant, so I had lots of time to watch this bush. "This thing looks nothing like the cutting I rooted of my dad's bush! Why? Is it just more mature? Makes no sense!" I let it go, but the fear built in my heart. I didn't want to know.

By early spring it was all too clear. Not his shrub rose.

I knew for the longest time that it was suspect, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and let it stay, hoping my suspicions were incorrect and that it would not be what I thought it was. Threw some big-a** canes recently, it did. Hmmm...? I even waited for the first bloom, hoping for the best but knowing better.

Rosa Multiflora! Crap!!

I don't know what to do. We have lots of RRD around Philadelphia, much within a mile or two. I suspect there is an infected Multiflora up the block on the street side.

I am such a bleeding heart I have serious trouble digging out plants and discarding them. The yard is so small and there are so many other roses I would like to plant there. But, I am heartbroken that I have to dig up this bush my dad dug up for me. Crap! I know he could care less, he said "Just throw it in the trash!". I know I will be more heartbroken if it becomes infected and infects other roses I am trying so desperately to grow, or turns into a giant monster, which I know it will.

I am dreading digging it out and have been putting it off for some time, as it gets bigger. I have no idea what to do with it. It is healthy and I hate the idea of ditching it. Apparently, I am not a shovel pruner. Even the dreaded violets are planted with care under trees and hostas in this yard, and throughout the perennials. I can't help but love them, too! Multiflora, well, not so much. But still, killing it and all when it's healthy just seems wrong. Heart says move it, mind says toss it. I am sure just toying with the thought of keeping it freaks out plenty of people on here. However, I know some of you do grow it.

I guess it should be removed. I wish I could plant it somewhere else, but where? I don't know. In the shade? That is all that I have. Perhaps it will be a tame, manageable little bush in part sun, part shade? Probably not. Maybe I should do that, and if it lives, it lives.

What a bummer.

End of rant. Thank you for listening. Any thoughts are welcome.
Back to the garden.

Multiflora in good soil (which you have in the Philly area) and a nice climate (which you also have) will be in full sun with decent rainfall eight feet tall in three years. It will also spread out underground and may be five feet across. It WILL shade out the potential garden space that you covet.

There are some white multiflora-related polyanthas that would fill that niche, would remind you of your Father's attempted good deed, and would rebloom madly, year after year.

Dig it up. Try for some cuttings of Dad's good rose.
You don't need this thing -- It'd be like me growing Dr. Huey. :-(

Jeri