Which is better, own root or grafted roses? This debate is easily a century old, and, it still rages. The only honest answer, in my opinion, is that it depends. Some varieties are suited for own root growing because they generate sufficient root systems and are vigorous enough to develop into great plants. Others, aren't. Some climates are better suited for own root growing, while more severe ones, with shorter, cooler growing seasons, benefit from the extra vigor often imparted by roots from a stronger, faster growing variety. As with many things regarding gardening, there is no absolute answer. Those who are own root proponents will argue that any rose will eventually grow on its own roots. While, with some qualifications, that is probably true, you need to make the decision whether or not you want to wait long enough, and give the variety the appropriate attention it will take. Or, if the faster development, probably with less of your time and attention required, the bare root, grafted/budded plants are what you'd like better.

If you live in a harsher, colder, shorter growing season, climate, and you are choosing roses which are more cold hardy than many root stocks, you'd likely be better off growing them own root. That way, the entire plant would have the same cold hardiness, rather than one level of hardiness for that part above ground, with the roots being less cold hardy. While it's not usually that much of a problem for many of us, the very cold growing areas...many colder areas of the northern United States and Canada, can benefit from not having more cold sensitive roots when they're hit with their more severe weather. Teas and Chinas will grow for many, many years on their own roots. But, they'll be more easily damaged by extreme cold, and they can take a season or two, sometimes longer, to develop into the size plant most people expect the first year.

Then, there is also the suitability consideration, based upon soil type. The violet roses, those which create deep, saturated purple pigments, often don't like alkaline soil and water. They easily become chlorotic, which is iron deficiency. Budding on a suitable root stock, even though the variety can grow well own root, often allows them to perform well, without any extra care, on these more alkaline soils. For very sandy, semi tropical climates, such as Florida, nematodes are a problem. Fortuniana is often used as it is reportedly more resistant to the nematode damage.

Quite a few rose classes tend to spread by suckering. Just as Bamboo, or Bermuda grass spreads through an area, these roses eventually create colonies or stands which can be difficult to deal with when they invade other plantings, or lawn areas. Budding them will help prevent them from helping themselves to areas you hadn't intended for them to eat.

So, you see, it often just depends.