I'm new to the forum. I had a rose bed for 8 years and learned what I know from trial and error. So basically I have no clue but am eager to learn.

I have an Angel Face that has been troublesome. I planted this rose about 4 years ago in spring. Its started off good enough. It didn't bloom much but they were pretty and fragrant.

By July the top part of the rose died back. I thought I had ended up with a graft that died but the base was living and even sprouted. I don't think it was suckers but by this point I was glad to have a rose, any rose and didn't care about color. The rose grew and bloomed beautifully and to my delight was the lavender promise of the Angel Face.

The following year I pruned late winter and got a good start in spring. I ended up with aphids, spider mites, and more canes dying. Still bloomed nice enough. In late winter I pruned it back to about 4 inches figuring it would die or not.

It game back with a vengeance! The bush grew beautiful but the blooms were small and infrequent.

This year the Bush is amazing! But the buds are tiny. They don't have any smell. I'm at a loss. I don't know if I should abandon this rose or keep up the good fight.

Any suggestions?

WalkinOdyssey: First off, welcome to the Forum!! Secondly, "Angel Face" is indeed a lovely rose, and you have done a great job in seeing "her" through over the years. We don't know what zone you are in, that would help? My concerns are that "Angel Face" is prone to almost every disease there is. However, the dried up tops in July concern me. Is there the possibility that it might have received too much fertilizer, or might have been sprayed with anything on a very hot day? The only two possibilities I can think of. Again, welcome, keep us informed!

Fwmosher
I am in central Texas. I've been very careful not to spray when its in the sun or overly hot (frequently here in July and August) I use a bucket with a hole in the bottom to avoid splash issues when I water.

Too much fertilizer could be a problem. I use miracle grow rose food and a systemic rose and flower food that worked beautifully on the thrips. I used one or the other about every 6 weeks.

I didn't realize Angel Face roses had so many issues. I had one grafted into a tree rose about 7 years ago. It was AMAZING until a spring storm snapped the trunk.

I really appreciate the help. I love my little rose and will get more.

WalkinOdyssey: Well, there is nothing wrong with your fertilizer regimen and you obviously are very careful in spraying the top with respect to the hot sun. The only other thing I can think of is, are you certain your rose is growing from above the "knobby" root graft, and not from below same? And are you certain that you are not "rushing the season"? And, after just rereading your second post, I don't quite understand "systemic rose and flower food that worked beautifully on the thrips"? That sounds like some type of a spray other than a fertilizer spray, for thrips?? Check that anti-thrip spray, if it is a spray. Might be an issue! Keep us updated! Cheers!

The systemic insecticide is a granule. Honestly, I don't know if its growing from above or below the graft. Its the appropriate color to be above graft. I know some of the branches started below ground. They branched and budded but I just don't know. I think I may just have a sickly plant.

I don't understand 'rushing the season'. It buds and tries to bloom. But if it opens its tiny, pale and no smell. I don't see aphids or mites.

Thanks for taking the time with me.