Symptoms of rose rosette disease were first described during the 40s in the USA. The viral disease was imported with multi-flora rose from Japan. Multi-flora rose is a very prolific plant, and was originally used to secure stream banks, and used as natural fences to pen in livestock. It’s now considered a noxious weed on our continent.
Rose rosette disease is vectored by eriophyid mites (different than spidermites). There are currently no chemical means to control rose rosette disease. Affected roses should be removed and destroyed to prevent disease transmission. Spraying to control the mite which spreads the disease is an option, but should be combined with the removal of affected roses and multi-flora rose within 100-meters of the site.
