MANY roses exhibit red new growth. The picture of the prickles you've posted don't look abnormal for many varieties to me. Plus, the foliage on that cane appears normal. Take a look at the photos on the site I've linked below. Click on the images there to view them larger. You'll see how distorted RRD infected growth is and how yours appears to be normal. Kim

Here is a link that might be useful: Rose Rosette Disease

I agree with Kim. Looks normal to me. Don't start worrying until you see distorted and weird excessive growth--monster, mis-shapen growth. It's ugly. You won't be able to miss it. In the meantime, enjoy the red colors and prickles on your normal-growing rose! : )

Kate

I had a rose bush with RRD and can say yours looks absolutely normal. Once you've seen RRD you'll never forget it. The link Kim posted shows perfect examples of RRD infected roses. The leaves will be crinkled up. It made me think that the rose leaves had arthritis and couldn't straighten out if that makes sense. When I read that sometimes its called witches broom I had to laugh because when I first spotted it I had said to my husband that it looks like an old witches fingers. The buds on mine were also distorted and most never opened. Before I knew what it was I would just cut the entire cane off as far down as possible but then every year it would grow back looking just as bad if not worse than the year before. After I did some research and found out it was RRD I removed the entire bush root and all and put it right into the trash. I have a few other roses bushes but none of them are showing any signs of infection.

So don't worry. Your roses look fine.

I had a panic attack earlier this spring about some of mine...and I know better, lol! A LOT of roses start out with very red new growth and the thorns are many, small and soft but as they mature and grow out the thorns seem to spread out and harden up and the leaves turn green. RRD growth is always very distorted looking though. Check out Kim's link and you'll see the difference.