can you take some pics and post in flickr? it's probably rootstock, my hunch.

Sounds like the original was a graft on a different root stock. I've seen that same rose on several different plants. Have read where you cut that portion back so it doesn't take over as it's a vigorous grower. It's apparently a very common rose to graft to because it's so vigorous. Think it's called a rugosa rose. Deep burgundy, single petals, masses of blooms and extremely hardy. I always just cut it back as the rose that's grafted on (for me - the one I purchased) is more important than the graft.

Debbiesunshine-it certainly sounds a lot like you have rootstock that has grown and is blooming with whatever was grafted to it. the rootstock is Dr. Huey, and easily checked out at Help Me Find Roses. It is an old garden rose that is used a lot in the S.W.-I know I have seen it here growing wild in San Diego, and it can get covered with those cute little semi-double deep burgundy blooms. A very tough once bloomer, valid in its' own right. j.song

Since I've taken the suckers from the original plants and put them into large pots you would not believe how quickly they have grown and started to bud with large beautiful blooms. Maybe these were the grafts from originals which is great for me because they want nothing but sun and I have four very large bushes two in other garden areas and three different colored blooms. It's really a treat to watch these plants go from smaller leaves into much larger leaves with so many blooms. Each branch could fill a vase but I love the spuge of color so I just trim when needed.