It's a not uncommon occurrence but if you want to be sure of keeping it, taking a cutting would do it. Otherwise I think having both varieties on one bush is kind of interesting. I had a friend (no longer with us) who kept one of these going for years.

Last evening I checked with RU via email regarding whether any cuttings of 'Magic Lantern' had been provided. As usual, I received a prompt response. The answer to my inquiry was in the negative. (Why am I not surprised?) ML has been in my garden for abt 12 yrs, & has been among my favorites since it produced its first bloom. My damaged plant has made a half-hearted recovery, & I'm now attempting to root a number of cuttings in the hope that I'll have at least one in reserve. If I succeed with these cuttings, I'll send any extras to RU and to one of the vendors I deal with on the West Coast. It's a fine rose, & I'm hoping I can help make it available to even more gardeners than the ones who are now growing & enjoying my plant's progeny.

The cause of sporting is unknown to me. However, sporting is more characteristic of some rose groups than others. In the polyanthas, for exmaple, the Koster group (Margo et al including Mothersday/Fathersday) have produced some 27 registered sports. And the Orleans family has produced some 44, ranging in color from white through pinks, reds, corals, orange, and mauve. Currently, Bee's Knees has produced a number of sports--Erin Alonso being one of the best (IMO)> Some roses produce only a climbing version--e.g. Climbing White Pet. Others produce none for a hundred years and then produce a sport--Marie Pavie yielded Marie Daly some 114 years after its introduction. Go figure. Jim D

I think it's a weedling. I've never heard of a sport unattached to the momma plant. And yes it's true that 99% of the time that you get a green plant, you can get a variegated one on rare occasions. I've never worked with Antioch so I don't know how stable it is or isn't. In any case, it's a nice looking plant. If you end up registering it, however, it should be unknown x unknown for the parentage. Cuz you just don't know for sure. Steve