Hi Lux, where to start... Tea roses have been infamous for their sterility issues. Some have shown themselves to be decent parents, while others have no offspring, probably due to the fact they are terrible seed and/or pollen parents. For instance, Mrs. Dudley Cross has only one offspring and it is a sport, not a seedling. Surprising such a pretty, decent rose was never used for breeding, isn't it? Mme. Lombard has quite a few offspring, some of which are sports, others not. You can check whether there are known offspring from each on Help Me Find.

The older European Garden Roses may require some cold stratification, while most Teas, Chinas, minis and moderns don't really need it. I only use it to delay germination until usually this time of the year when it's safer to plant. Traditionally, by now (Thanksgiving) the rains should have started (presuming we are going to have rains) and the heat is over, which helps foster better germination. Otherwise, in the years I've harvested late and immediately planted, germination was good.

But, then, some years germination sucks, then others, it's great. No reason, just works that way. Few get great germination every year, no matter what they do, or don't do. I've honestly found I get as good (or bad) germination by not doing all the hocus pocus stuff to "insure better germination". I simply shell the seed and rub off all the extra fibers and hip tissue with my fingers, then put the seeds in small zip lock bags with a plastic label with the cross written in #2 pencil, then pop that into a larger plastic bag to hold in the fridge until it's cooler and wetter. No fungicides, no hydrogen peroxide washes, no nothing. When the time is right, I plant outdoors in my seed tables and keep them watered. Of course, you can be as "scientific" and elaborate as you wish, but you don't HAVE to.

So, yes, some roses are simply sterile or otherwise reluctant parents. Others are "weeds", rabbits. They generate many seeds and every one seems to germinate into multiple seedlings. If you've succeeded in germinating rose seeds previously, so you know your planting method works, I'd chalk up the failure to either bad parents or just a bad year. I wouldn't give up on trying, though. You might browse HMF for your list of potential seed parents to see which have proven themselves decent "mothers" to get a feel for what might be worth planting.

I've done the "nobody has a reported result from THIS one" routine and found it's usually because "this one" is a dud. Try the difficult ones if you wish, you might come up with something...or not. But, I would check the list to see what has created results and start with them. Good luck! Kim

Roseseek,

I cannot thank you enough!
Thanks for making this issue clear for me.

Happy Holidays,

Lux.

Hi Lux! You're most welcome! It's my pleasure. Thank you! Happy Holidays to you, too! Kim