What is a rose sucker? How do you recognize one?
Suckers are shoots that grow from the rootstock rather than from the named variety which has been grafted onto it. If nothing is done then the suckers will take over the plant completely and you will have a bush that has reverted. You can tell if it is a sucker if you see that it is coming from below the bud union and by the different leaf form and color. Don't go by the number of leaflets as a guide. Try to pull the sucker off rather than cutting it as cutting stimulates growth again. Pulling if off causes the wound to make a callous and heal over.