Anyone know what causes this?

[shirlthegirl43]

I bought a 'Sweet Memories' rose on Saturday (would have been my horse's 31st birthday if he hadn't popped his clogs at the start of May). It is supposed to be pale yellow but this one caught my notice as about a third of the flowers are pale peach/orange. Since horse's name was Gemini, I felt a strange twin rose was appropriate, along with the sweet memories name.

However, best of all is the flower in the pic. Just wondered, does anyone know what would cause this unusual effect and can I expect more flowers like this next year?

[sewer rat]

Hi StG
Haven't seen that type of split before but I have an old rose in my garden called Harlequin, which opens pink and turns yellow, but that's what it is supposed to do !
As you say, the two tone colour scheme makes it seem most appropriate as a memorial plant for Gemini

[Snadger]

I bought a 'Sweet Memories' rose on Saturday (would have been my horse's 31st birthday if he hadn't popped his clogs at the start of May). It is supposed to be pale yellow but this one caught my notice as about a third of the flowers are pale peach/orange. Since horse's name was Gemini, I felt a strange twin rose was appropriate, along with the sweet memories name.

However, best of all is the flower in the pic. Just wondered, does anyone know what would cause this unusual effect and can I expect more flowers like this next year?

Don't know much about roses but I certainly like that one!

If it was me, and just out of daftness I would try a cutting or a bud off the branch with that flower on it and have a go at propagating!!
Don't know whether it would work or not, especially if its on a rootstock, but deffo worth reading up and seeing if it's feasible!

When you're rich and famous with a rose named 'Gemini' put me on the " I want one",list!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

Oddly enough Snadger, I am trying a cutting as one of the peachy coloured stems snapped off as they put the plant into a bag. Any tips on the best way to go about it with the best chance of success?

Just went to have a closer look and hope this makes sense.

there is a sort of stump which the branches all come out of. one branch has a further two branches coming off it - one with yellow blooms, one with the peachy coloured blooms and the bi-coloured one.

If indeed the cutting takes and I get similarly divided plants then I will try to follow your suggestion, name it after Gemini and send you one, but wouldn't it be down to the breeder of the one I bought?

[Earthbabe]

Like those before I've no idea how that sort of thing happens but it is quite lovely and very unusual. And probably yes very appropriate. Good luck with the cuttings.

[SueA]

Hi Shirley, there is a rose called 'Sweet Dream' which is a peachy colour like the ones in your photo, I wonder if it could be some sort of cross-pollination which has caused the two colours & the split one? If the branch with the peachy ones on was coming from below the 'stumpy join' graft point it could have been from the rootstock yours was grafted onto but it doesn't sound like that. If you want to try & grow the cutting I'd cut the flower off & put a slit in the soil somewhere in the garden & drop some sand into it to provide drainage & then drop the cutting in so there's about 4-6 inches in the ground & about the same above if thats possible.It should root by late next year I think & then you could either dig it up & move it or leave it where it is. I've done this in the past & been a bit hit & miss, some take, some don't.

[moggssue]

Cant help with the how or why, but just wanted to say I love that rose! And agree that its very appropriate for a gemini!

[nick the grief]

it's what is called a sport Shirley. It can come about for all sorts of reasons ( they suspect) some varieties of plants are more unstable than others. if you were to send a petal away to a lab they could micropropagate it for you and give you 100's of plamtlets back ( costs a fortune mind ) but there is no guarantee thet they will be stable and fix.

still you've nothing to loose by trying and the worse that can happen is you end up with another bush that is a mass of peachy flowers !

[TPeers]

Perfect memorial for your wonderful horse!

Good luck with the cutting, can I go on the 'would love to own one' list please

Terry

[shirlthegirl43]

As an update, the cutting (the bit that broke off) has rooted in water and will be potted up soon.

Also, a bud opened yesterday - picture attached. I guess this might be a regular occurence with this plant. Apologies for the blurring.

[TPeers]

Lucky you! I would keep the new plant in a pot for a while - like fruit trees, roses are grafted to contain/improve their growth so there is no way of telling what sort of growth habit the new plant will have - it may be a small bush type or it may be the most vigerous rambler ever!

Fantastic colours.....

[nick the grief]

It may be that you have one that is unstabe ( no pun intended re the horse connection) Shirl and thats why it keeps giving bicoloured blooms. No one really knows what triggers plants to sport as far as I'm aware.

THere is someone I know who has had several chrysanthemums sport with him and they were all grown in a particular patch in his garden so it could be anything.

Well done on rooting the other bit and I hope it grows well for you.