How cool--your mom's rose!

I'd prune out all the deadwood right now.

I'd also give it regular feedings of one of the --Tones (RoseTone or HollyTone or PlantTone)--every month or 6 weeks (at end of each blooming cycle). Water it in well and don't forget to water the plant regularly to maintain moist soil (but not water-logged, please). Follow the directions for regular application of the fungicide--every two weeks maybe?--though you may be able to let up in July and August if it gets really hot then in your region.

There, that should about do it. Let us know how it fares.

Kate

It looks a lot like a climbing miniature rose. You can prune the canes WAY back this time of year and the bush will react by growing vigorously. In your zone it is not a good idea to HARD prune after July 15th but as it is five weeks till then you have plenty of time.

Can you post a picture of a single bloom? From your description it sound like it could be Dr. Huey but can't be sure with out seeing a photo of the bloom.

That is really beautiful.

Has it ever produced any repeat bloom after the May-June flush? If not, it probably never will.

A good pruning tip for elderly rose plants is to remove a fraction of the canes (the oldest ones) at the base after the May-June flush is over. This causes the rose to regenerate itself by putting up a similar number of new canes from the base.

Sorry for the delayed response. To be honest I don't know if its ever had a second bloom but I will keep an eye on it this year. To hear that it might jut be rootstock growth is slightly disappointing, but I talked with my mom and she said she did try to dig it up one year, but that she remembers it always blooming like this. So perhaps the grafted part of the rose NEVER made it and that it's always been rootstock. If I can't get the blackspot under control and it completely defoliates again, we might consider taking it out and replacing it with a named, tougher variety. Here's some more pictures I took, the quality isn't the greatest (cell phone) but what do you think? Is it Dr. Huey?

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Kristopher

Here's a couple more

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Thanks for all your help!

Kristopher

Dr. Huey is much darker and smaller. I just dug up a Dr. Huey that I've had for a few years after the graft died off. Yours does not look like a Dr. Huey to me based on the color and size of the blooms. Dr. Huey is a darker red like a red wine kind of red.