Is This Rose Shoot a Sucker? Plus: Fixing Weak Canes on 'Rhapsody in Blue'

A 'Rhapsody in Blue' floribunda has a new basal shoot with 7 leaflets (same as main plant), lighter leaves, pink stem. Gardener asks if it's a sucker. Follow-up: plant has 100+ blooms but canes flop—will they thicken, or prune?

The 7-Leaflet Myth

Suckers do NOT always have 7 leaflets. Many modern roses (including 'Rhapsody in Blue') have 7 leaflets naturally. Suckers are identified by:

• Originating below the bud union
• Extremely vigorous, tall, thorny growth
• Different leaf color/texture/flower than grafted variety

This shoot is likely a desirable basal break (new main cane from crown). Keep it!

Fixing Floppy Canes Under Heavy Bloom

• Cause: Too much nitrogen → soft, fast growth.
• Fix: Cut fertilizer to one application in June only.
• Don't prune thin canes unless pencil-thin—leaves feed the bloom.
• Deadhead some buds now to reduce weight on weak canes.

Strong canes come from moderate feeding, not heavy blooming.