Hello! I am experiencing a full-scale rose rosette epidemic in my yard here in North Texas. I have lost 20+ rose bushes to RRD this year. I have gotten pretty good at identifying the symptoms of RRD. However, there are a few bushes with new growth that I'm unsure if it is infected with RRD or not. Would y'all mind lending your expertise to these photos? Thanks so much! It's been a very disheartening growing season at my house.

#1 Mister Lincoln:


#2 Mister Lincoln


#3 Mister Lincoln


#4 Black Magic


#5 Black Magic


#6: Red Ribbons

They all look normal to me.

I forgot to add that the thorns on each of these samples are translucent and pliable (flexible, rubbery). Should the thorns on new growth be rigid immediately, or do the thorns harden over time? I'm just wondering if pliable thorns are a surefire sign of RRD?

Lindsay, that is all lovely new growth. And yes ... prickles on immature new growth are often soft and translucent, and sometimes a lovely translucent mahogany red.

I hope the roses you removed didn't look like what you posted here. All this is quite lovely.

They all look good to me too.

If the roses you discarded looked like the ones in your post, I suspect you tossed a bunch of healthy roses. The experts on this forum can usually determine if your roses are healthy and, if not, what remedies may be available. I know this is beating a dead horse but check with the experts here tossing your plants.

Thanks, everyone!! The rest of the roses I discarded had canes displaying very pronounced witches' broom growth and grotesque amounts of thorns. They weren't close calls. I'm glad I asked for your input; it seems I have developed RRD paranoia. My neighbor had an RRD infestation, and didn't realize what it was until it was very, very bad. My plants probably were collateral damage.

@LindsayG. I agree, your is fine. Glad you did not dig it out. To me, RRD thorns are very close together and the leaves also are elongated. Correct me if I am wrong.