topic Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle in Garden

Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

Somertime — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:21:11 GMT

About 15 years ago, I planted red Don Juan climbing roses on a trellis with much success. Imagine my surprise this past week that all my blooms are WHITE....not a red rose in sight.

20 years ago I planted 5 white crepe myrtles and for the last 10 years......4 bloom white and the 5 is half white, half pink!

I live in Florida, i have changed nothing in the way I take care of them and am on well water.

I figure Mother Nature wanted a little change of pace!!! No, this is not an April Fools joke!

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

CamilleP — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:40:19 GMT

@Somertime I believe there are plant viruses that can change the color of blooms, I think that's how tulip breeders got all those "fancy" colors in their bulbs back in the days when "tulipmania" ruled Europe. Perhaps your plants have been infected by such a virus? I am very sorry your Don Juan rose is no longer red, I have a little scion Don Juan from a 60+ year old bush I donated to a college rose garden a couple of years ago, the landscapers who dug my roses up for me so I could transport them cut off a little chunk of root that had a short, leafless stem on it, and I re-planted that root in a sunnier spot that fall, and last summer it leafed out, grew several more stems, and even gave me one small red rose that smelled just as lovely as the old parent plant's blooms did.

Does your county have any sort of gardening programs that have Master Gardeners working with them, perhaps through your state land grant universities? If so, perhaps they might know of a treatment for your plants that would get rid of the virus and restore the natural bloom color?

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

stevieb — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:10:03 GMT

@Somertime I'd love to send you a link, but of course that's not possible here. Instead, search on line for: "why would a historically red rose start to bloom white". Makes for interesting reading.

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

chessylady — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 19:57:29 GMT

Many hybrid tea roses are grafted to a root stock rose that is hardy and different from the hybid tea. When a rose gets older, often the root stock overtakes the hybrid tea. I have a pink climbing Cecile Brunner that is gradually turning to red. You can't change this. Just dig out the rose and replace it with a new one.

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

Somertime — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:06:22 GMT

Thank you for all your comments. I am enjoying the change of color. The funny part is my favorite rose is a white rose, so I am happy with my gift from Mother Nature!

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

Desertdi — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:25:46 GMT

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

stevieb — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:11:11 GMT

@Somertime wrote:
Thank you for all your comments. I am enjoying the change of color. The funny part is my favorite rose is a white rose, so I am happy with my gift from Mother Nature!

I love roses period, but I too have a fondness for the whites.

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

Kachina624 — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 21:14:25 GMT

Roses are grafted onto a front stock which can be a rose of any color. Someestime the original plant is damaged or just at its maximum age and the roots took rose takes over. They are usually a less than highly desirable variety.

I had this happen with a lavender rose. I tried to dig it up as I didn't like it. I accidently left some root stock and next season I had a deep dark red climbing rose. It tried to take over and wasn't very pretty so I eventually got rid of it too.

Re: Don Juan Climbing Roses & Crepe Myrtle

skatting44 — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 04:22:29 GMT

Had the same happen to a couple really old roses except

a Zéphirine Drouhin and a Rugosa Hansa which are 28 yrs old.