When DH found this little sprig growing in the yard, we thought it was a remnant from my defunct Austrian Copper, so we scooped it up and moved it to a location safe from the depredations of the dogs and goats. It's been happily growing into a nice sized little shrub for 2 or 3 years and finally bloomed for this first time this year. Heh, NOT Austrian Copper! But it's a pretty little thing. Has clusters of blooms, each a bit less than 2" across and a lovely dark red. Slight fragrance. Here are a couple of blooms in a tiny vase, and a shot of the entire plant. (Ignore the mildew, please ... help is on the way!)





Oh, one other pic, showing the bloom clusters:

Looks like Dr. Huey, a common rootstock that lives on long after the roses grafted onto it have given up the ghost.

Rose (Rosa 'Dr. Huey')

I'll bet that's right. I thought that the scrap was from Austrian Copper (that's not a grafted rose, is it?), but there were other casualties in the same area. Dr. Huey makes sense. I'm not complaining; it's pretty and I like it! Thanks, Zuzu!

Austrian Copper usually isn't grafted, but there was a time when just about everything was grafted, so it isn't impossible. Austrian Copper is less resistant to black spot than most roses, so it may have been grafted to diminish that vulnerability.

I also like Dr. Huey. It has its downside, I suppose. It rarely reblooms and it is prone to powdery mildew, but I love the color and vigor of this rose.

And that Austrian Copper came from Walmart, so who knows? My only complaint is that it most likely will quickly outgrow the spot it's planted in. I can't believe how much it has grown this past year! It was just a single little twig when we found it about 3 years ago. Maybe I can get it to climb a trellis to keep it somewhat contained?

BTW, any suggestions on a good source for a "real" Austrian Copper? Not the style or color of rose I generally prefer, but I fell in love with it many years ago at the Descanso Gardens in La Canada. Looked for it for years (back in the pre-Internet days ) and was astounded to finally find one at Walmart, of all places!

I'd try to get it from Forestfarm (sold as Rosa foetida bicolor), but here's a 5-page list of nurseries carrying Austrian Copper:

http://www.helpmefind.com/gard...

Dr. Huey grows best as a climber, so a trellis is a good idea. You could try to contain it by pruning, but be sure to prune it right after it blooms. If you wait too long, you'll take the risk of cutting off the next year's buds.

Thanks, Zuzu! Particularly for the information on pruning. It certainly is a cute little rascal; wish I'd known what it was before I stuffed into that small area. But at least now I know what I'm dealing with, and may be able to move some other stuff around to make room for it. Many thanks!

zuzu said:If you wait too long, you'll take the risk of cutting off the next year's buds.

In her zone, she won't have to worry about cutting of next year's buds. I have to trim lots on my Austrian Copper every year and every year I get blooms. Especially when it practically gets winterkill all the way to the ground. Within about a month, it's again about 2-3 feet long & blooming. And Dr. Huey is a PITA!! Takes over everywhere!! I have it growing wild now in 3 different parts of my yard!

I have quite a few accidental Dr Hueys. I find them rather charming - but I am not limited in my growing space. I'm sure there are roses I would I would prefer over Dr Huey if I had to be choosey.