Hi there! I’m looking for answers regarding the above tree rose, an at least 20-year old Barbara Sreisand who was doing very well and looking to have a healthy and robust blooming season this year. Over the course of about a week, after already making new spring growth, she suddenly began to wither and then very abruptly died. There are shoots with buds sprouting from her base. I’m in Portland, Oregon, zone 8b. We had not yet fed or fertalized her, we hadn’t sprayed. It looks like she was burned. Any insight is very welcome! Thank you!
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Welcome to the forum vmartin. So sorry about the loss of your tree rose. This will take you some research, also be sure to contact a consulting rosarian from your local society.
Was this rose very healthy last fall? Do you have voles in your region? Was your lawn treated with anything within the last few months. Was there any kind of injury anywhere on the standard cane? Take a look at the cane at the soil line and dig down and look at the roots.
“Rose tree”, meaning a standard, “tree rose”? You wrote it was sprouting and there is new growth sprouting from the base but the main part dried up. That indicates something damaged the standard trunk, leaving the roots alive and growing. Perhaps a weed whacker damaged the trunk? Did a gnawing rodent chew through the trunk, killing it? Did hot sun scald the trunk, leading to infection by Flat Headed Apple Borers? The maggots literally bore into the cambium layer and girdle the canes, destroying the cambium layer (circulatory system) which stops the upward flow of sap, killing the plant by causing it to crisp, drying out and resembling what your photo shows. Borer damage would kill the tissue above where the borer girdled the cane, leaving the roots alive and growing. If there are sucker shoots growing from the ground, then it’s likely you may have borer damage in the standard trunk. Apple-Flatheaded borers | Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks Flatheaded appletree borer - Agricultural Biology
If there are any consulting rosarians near you, by all means, contact them and make use of their experience. Until then, Google the borers for more images of their damage and take a look at the trunk of your tree rose. From your photo, it’s gone and if you want another, it’s time to dig that one out and obtain and plant another. Good luck.
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