We get those here. The birds eat the rose hips and then they spread everywhere. They grow along the fence line here and they get huge. They have white flowers and are very fragrant when in bloom. They are pretty, but also a nuisance.

I've never seen any wild roses in the neighborhood, though I have seen some along a creek about 5 miles away. I suppose it's a possibility. I really don't want it in this spot but don't have any place else for it and can't stand the thought of killing a rose bush!

My yard is overrun with them.

of roses that are not desirable. If the sucker is from one of these rootstocks, you would not get something that you would want. See this link for an explanation:

http://www.heirloomroses.com/care/rootstock/

But with that said, I have a rose bush that was grown from a cutting, and it also has other roses growing up around it. They will all be the same rose, since there is no rootstock that was used.

As to a rose bush in a different part of the yard, I cannot explain that. I have never heard of it, but have a feeling that the bush would not be very tame. There are some roses (at least in my area in Pa) that are invasive (multi-flora rose), and they are not something that you want growing....they spread like crazy.

This is only the second summer I've lived here, but the bush is well established and the flowers look like Dr. Huey. It probably went back to root stock long ago. As to the part in your link that talks about root stock leading to an aggressive climbing rose, this is exactly what I want in that area. The plot of land it's on is approximately 8'x3' and has the worst rocky-clay soil ever. Nothing else grows there! It's surrounded by concrete and along a fence. I built a trellis hoping it would be a climbing rose. A second one to fill in the area would be ideal!

The one in the front bed is worrisome, though. I'm going to give it another week or so and then try to transplant it to a place in the front of the house that gets relentless sun that kills everything. If it survives there, I'd be very, very happy. And if it dies, c'est la vie!

let's hope you get it. And you are like me----there are areas where nothing grows, so if something will flourish, I am happy no matter what it is. Well, I lie. I have places that grew nothing, but I have found things that will grow like crazy, and all I want is it gone. "Watch what you wish for" was my mom's favorite saying, and it is appropriate here.

Rocky clay surrounded by concrete----sounds like a great place for portulaca.

But I've planted some chives in the bed and will transplant some wild garlic bulbs that escaped from a neighbor's garden into my back yard in a holistic attempt to ward off aphids (who vexed me this year). I have some tulip bulbs that are doing very well there, and the iris I planted there last fall didn't die, even if they didn't bloom this first year. So I think the garlic should do pretty well there.

At least the two I have that have reverted are. Big growers, lovely red.