Of three seedlings from open pollinated seed of Graham Thomas, one appears to be a dwarf. Germinated February 1st, 2026, this cultivar bloomed in late March 2026 and the entire plant appears to be miniature. Height is 2 and 1/2 in by 2 and 1/2 in. Leaflets are tiny and bushy. Roots look vigorous.
The first bloom was deep pink, 10 petals, long sepals. Once settled in a large pot, it immediately started setting new buds, and presently has three buds on it.
Has anyone else seen dwarfism in Graham Thomas seedlings?
What is going on here?
Thank you!
Just a suggestion, dwarfism or miniaturization is found in many sections of Rosa. There are Chinas behind Graham Thomas, where the original minis are thought to have originated. There is also multiflora through polyanthas, which has also created more “mini” types (see The Gift). It’s possible the right genes from the various parents behind it simply aligned properly to produce something miniaturized.
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As Kim suggested, dwarfism can appear in almost any line of breeding, especially if you grow self-pollinated seedlings, which allows recessive traits to manifest.
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