What is this plant?

[JadeS]

Can anyone verify what plant this is? I bought Black Rose seeds online and (learnt that many rose seeds require stratification)…..me: YouTubing “stratification” and so, after stratification this was the only lone soldier to grow… but the leaves are so large and heart shaped I just think it’s something else? Plus the stem has creeper vine thingys growing? I’m a new gardener (stratification YouTube give it away?) can anyone shed some light? Cos I can’t  possibly look any “greener” gardener….!!

Many thanks

 

 

 

[BradN]

Hi @JadeS . I'm afraid that looks like a weed to me. 

Stratification is pretty advanced stuff for a "new gardener", but good on you for giving it a go. As I'm sure you know, you have to have quite specific stratification instructions for the particular seeds you're trying to germinate because you're trying to emulate the specific environment they come from.

Do you know exactly what variety of rose seeds you had, and what did you do to stratify them? 

Did the seeds come from a reputable supplier? You don't always get what you pay for online. Seed scams are quite an industry.

I don't know much about roses, but this article suggests that rose seeds can take a long time to germinate. It also points out that "while most species roses come true from seed, cultivars and hybrids do not and are usually propagated vegetatively". So even if you do in fact have seeds from a black rose (which you might not have), and even if they do germinate, they might not produce black roses.

Perhaps our oracles @EricL and @Noelle or our other garden experts might be able to tell us more.  

[Noelle]

Hi @JadeS 

Definitely NOT a rose seedling - Brad's on the money with his suggestion it looks like a weed!

Stratification processes are, as he has said, quite complex and usually not easy to replicate accurately at home and without specialist propagation equipment.

I can't see any benefit in trying to grow roses from seed unless you are a hybridist who's made some well researched pollination crosses between carefully selected varieties. The odds of finding that one spectacular bloom that's going to make you a fortune from a large number of seeds you've bought are lower than trying to find that proverbial needle in the haystack! The genetics are just too variable from a random pack of seeds.

[EricL]

Hello @JadeS

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your question about what kind of plant do you have.

It's great that you've received excellent advice from @BradN and @Noelle. I'm afraid their conclusions are correct. That is not a rose seedling. The leaves are too large and the body colour is not the correct shade for rose plants. As we are coming into summer, this plant hopefully will start to flower soon. We will then have a better chance of identifying it from its bloom. But if it continues to grow out of control and propagates itself regardless of watering conditions, you know exactly what you have.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[BradN]

@JadeS I know you're much more interested in roses, but that weed has been bugging me. I think I've seen it a lot around here (the Gold Coast), but I can't ID it. 

I put your first photo into a couple of plant ID websites, and they give this kind of result.  I think it's probably either Bixa orellana (though I can't believe I haven't noticed those flowers and fruits!) or maybe some variety of Clerodendrum. 

Even though it's not the plant you wanted, that Wikipedia article on Bixa orellana is still fascinating. There's never a dull day in the garden!

[JadeS]

Hi BradN,

thanks for your reply, I appreciate any information I can get. I began gardening as a hobby when my son was leaving for the military when he finished his HSC, and being a solo parent the last 19 years I knew I’d need to keep myself busy so I decided I’d grow my mum some roses for the rose garden she’s wanted to set up for a while. I was very naïve & absolutely clueless as I wanted to grow from seed so it was more of a challenge (ummm, yes) and I wanted the rarer colours…. See….clueless!!! But 1 year on I’m hooked, realise the enormous complexities, and research well before doing anything!! So thanks for your reply I appreciate it!

Mel

[BradN]

Hi @JadeS  So you've been growing roses for a while, then? Have you and your Mum planted any at her place, or are they still in pots? I'm sure we'd all  like to see some photos if you have any.

Another reason most folks don't grow roses from seed is because many/most commercially produced roses are grafted, with the pretty ornamental top part grafted on to a tough-as-nails rootstock. 

It's the same with citrus, avocado and a lot of other fruit trees. Growing from seed can be fun but unless you have that hardy rootstock to deal with underground pests, diseases, etc, you're not going to have the strongest and most productive plant.

Cheers,

Brad

[JadeS]

Thanks Noellle,

As I mentioned to BradN, growing black and blue and rainbow roses for my mum as the first project in my new hobby, I m  now a year along and many projects along & now understand project 1 is like someone who’s never seen snow setting off to climb Everest, in thongs! Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it, 

Mel

[JadeS]

Thankyou Eric, 

I will do as you suggested and keep my eye on it, see what happens and let you know! Watch this space haha!

regards, Mel

[BradN]

Hi @JadeS . There are a lot of specialist rose nurseries in Australia that grow a lot of the newest and funkiest rose varieties, and they can usually ship roses potted or bare-rooted pretty much anywhere in Australia (depending on the time of year).

You can find some of these rose nurseries in the classified ads of gardening magazines, such as the ABC Gardening Australia magazine. I personally would contact one of these businesses rather than some random website, because then you can be pretty sure that they're a real local business that lives on their reputation, rather than some fly-by-night Dodgy Brothers thing. I'm guessing that there are some pretty serious rose fanatics using the Gardening Australia classifieds, and I can't imagine them putting up with anything that isn't the real deal...

Brad