Question:
I'm going to replace several struggling roses. Should I plant patent or non-patent varieties? I've been told that the patent varieties are better performers than the non-patent.Answer:
- The Plant Patent Act of 1930 introduced intellectual property or patent rights for plants.
- It allows plant breeders to recover their development costs from "asexually propagated" plants, aka roots, divisions, and cuttings, but not seeds. This includes fruit trees, roses, and today ornamental trees and shrubs.
- Nearly half of the 3,010 plant patents issued between 1930 and 1970 were for roses. Jackson & Perkins, Armstrong Roses, Weeks, and Star Roses contribute to a staggering share of U.S. plant patents. Anyone who wishes to propagate and distribute the variety must purchase a patent tag for each plant from the hybridizer.
- Although we see new varieties every year, they are not developed overnight. A new introduction is the result of many, many years of trial and error. The patent tag cost varies significantly between varieties. It could be anywhere from a quarter to several dollars.
- After seventeen years, the patent expires, becoming a non-patent variety. Now, anyone can reproduce it free of charge. The rose is the same whether it's a non-patent or patent variety.
- Newer rose varieties are more resistant to diseases than old-timers. Today, hybridizers are cross-breeding resistant varieties from previous years for the new varieties of the 21st century.
- I'm always curious about the parentage of each year's new introductions. It gives me a clue as to how a particular variety will perform in our varied microclimates.
- The rose care products of today will effectively control rose diseases, so I'd use some other characteristics as my primary focus in selecting varieties.
NOTE: Here is a list of the new roses for 2023: https://www.rose.org/single-post/2022-new-rose-introductions https://www.jacksonandperkins.com/jp-new-roses/c/JP-New-Roses/
Question:
The cold has damaged my Mexican Sage plants. Is there a right or wrong time to prune them back? I'd like to maintain them year-round as they provide a colorful feeding environment for HummingbirdsAnswer:
- Mexican Sage is not unusual to turn brown from the winter cold. I'd expect this to happen every year.
- I prefer to wait until the end of February or the beginning of March to prune them; however, it can be done at any time, weather permitting. Mexican Sage produces all of its new growth from the base of the plant. It produces no lateral branches and blooms on the terminal end of each shoot. It should bloom around Memorial Day and continue through the first cold night. Thus, I'd prune it off at the ground with a pair of hand or electric hedge shears.
- It would help if you also cleaned out all of the fallen debris that has gathered during the past growing season. And in March, feed them with an Organic All Purpose Plant Food to encourage new growth. This feeding should be sufficient for the entire year.