I'm not an expert, but it looks like canker....although black spot can present on the canes as well.

Tammy

Looks like canker to me too, Jill.

Jackie

At this time of year I'd have to agree with canker. I have seen blackspot present like that coming out of winter in the very early spring but not that I know of mid-season. If it were blackspot at this time of year it would show all over those leaves already.

Thanks for the responses.
OK, so what should be done about it? I can't spray for it. Should I remove the affected parts and see if there is any plant left? Should I just try to find another of the rose (Country Living)? Are some roses more suseptible to canker than others? TIA
Jill

Hi Jill,
i am in agreement with everyone else,..i would surely say it is Canker,..which is a Fungal Disease,..there are a few species of Canker plus a similar one called "Black Saddle",..yours appears to be brown from your picture.

What to do,..well i would cut off most of the diseased canes and burn them,..do not leave them in the garden seeing its a fungal disease,.then i would douse the remainder of the canes with an Anti Fungal Spray,..i make up my own sprays but you can Google for "Anti Fungal Home Made Mix/Spray",..if you want you can purchase a spray,..the same spray against "Black Spot",..will do.

I would certainly try to save the rose bush,..and it can be saved and taken back to full health.

Jill, I had (I think) about 5 this spring that had canker pretty badly. I cut back the canes as far as I could, and 3 of them survived, while 2 did not (well, one of the two is sort of hanging on but I think its getting shovel pruned shortly...)

As for Country Living, when I purchased it this spring, I think that Hortico was the only nursery offering it. Of course, there's mixed opinions about them, but I placed my first order from them for this past spring and everything went fine.

Tammy