Roses without flowers

by Mania
(Montreal)

I took a few cuttings from my neighbour's red roses 2 summers ago and planted them in my garden in the sun. Only the thin cuttings made it. However, last summer (their first summer in my garden) they never flowered. Is that normal? Or should I throw them away?

Doug says they're babies. They're likely putting strength to the roots. And depending on the species and variety - they may flower on old wood. So they grow the wood and buds in year one and the buds open to flowers in year two. This process then continues yearly as the flowers emerge from the previous years bud-growth.

The danger in some climates with some plants that do this is a harsh winter will kill off existing buds and you'll go the next year without flowers.

And if that rose in your friend's garden was grafted, it may indeed be hardier than an own-root rose (but it really depends on the rose itself so that's a big "may be") :-)

Bottom line - give it another year or three to produce flowers. If it doesn't - then toss it.