Any extreme weather lately (when the bud was developing)?

Wow. I have never seen anything remotely like that on a rose bush. And two of them! Do they share an underlying cane?

You know, I would send this photo to R.U., and ask. Whatever it is, it is rather remarkable.

Jeri

We've had a very mild temps lately, it's been really nice and cool, below 85 mostly.

I've seen some weird bud formation during spring but not late summer fall, even then the flowers aren't crazy different like this.

I will have to ask RU, I'm curious with what they have to say!

Do they share an underlying cane or stem? If so, the cause would be mutation, and that part of the plant may continue to produce these flowers.

Or it could be the opening phase of an alien invasion.

Here's the bottom of that big cane.

Another view

This post was edited by msjam2 on Wed, Oct 16, 13 at 22:57

Bump

Roses just sometimes pop out different looking blooms, different shades, different forms, etc., it happens. Any kind of change in it's environment during bud set, and that was weeks before it opened, can trigger a change in the ultimate results. If the weather was a little wonky the week it set that bud or if you sprayed something at that time it could have affected it. Mark the cane and watch how it blooms in the future before taking any actions. It's probably just a one time occurrence.