Rosa 'WEKsurdicla' (Rainbow Happy Trails™)

Rosa 'WEKsurdicla' (Rainbow Happy Trails™) was bred by Tom Carruth in the United States and is a cross between Rosa 'INTerdust' (Sun Runner™) and R. 'WEKfunk' (Dick Clark). It is a shrub rose that grows as a ground cover, staying low to the ground and spreading.

At Brookgreen Gardens, we have found the vigor and disease resistance of Rosa 'WEKsurdicla' (Rainbow Happy Trails™) to be unimpressive. It appears to have problems with black spot (Diplocarpon rosae), resulting in its decreased vigor and loss of foliage.

Black spot can cause leaves to develop black spots with blurred edges, yellowing leaves, and eventually partial or entire defoliation. While black spot is rarely fatal, it can weaken the rose by reducing its leaves and therefore its ability to photosynthesize. Although similar in appearance to cercospora leaf spot, black spot can be distinguished by the less defined and more feathered edges of the spots. As with many fungal problems, issues are generally worse in areas with high humidity. Black spot can be treated chemically. 

At Brookgreen Gardens, roses are rarely sprayed for fungal, insect, or other environmental pressures or problems. The Poetry Garden at Brookgreen Gardens is maintained as a completely spray-free rose garden, favoring the use of disease resistant roses and proper cultural practices.