What? Should be more hardy than this! Hope it will do beter next winter for you. Unless of course you got a Gloire De Dijon (Forum Humor)!

Mine left about a month ago. I don't think it was nearly healthy enough to be anywhere near as hardy as it should have been. Also, the color wasn't remotely exciting.

Alchymst is a monstrous climber and tough as nails. Mean to boot, he always bites me when anywhere near it and no one is climbing up onto my back deck thru that rose. It takes time for climbers and shrubs to establish themselves before they start to put out real growth. An own root is sometimes smaller. My Alchymst is grafted and never gets winter protection and a haircut once a year after flowering. It is over 10 feet high. I whacked him bad last year to reduce his girth and once again a of lot new shoots this year to encroach on the deck stairs. I love this rose, the blooms are unique and the scent fills the yard, the generous amount you get, the in your face tough as nails. Give your plant a chance, it is a piece of history. I will post a picture. susz

I am not a dab hand with the computer but posted a picture of blooms in the photo gallery. I have not have done a professional job but good enough to show the attractiveness of Alchymst. I just love this rose. Susz

Thanks for the encouragement (and Mad Gallica, I know you're picky!) I will try to chalk it up to still being a baby and hope for lots of growth this season and better hardiness next winter. Susz, the pic in the gallery is one gorgeous rose, if I am ever tempted to take MG's advice and shovel prune it, I will think of your Alchymist.

I have 2 and one has a long 6' or so cane that is hardy to the tip. A few smaller canes too. My other one looks dead. But several other roses just now that looked dead are finally budding. Like Dr. W. VanFleet that I was already planning to replace.

I do little for Alchymst beyond some manure composting once a year. He is against a south facing wall. I prune after flowering and I do take more care now because in the effort to get some old canes out to make room for new ones you have a gangly mess. My plant is close to 9 yrs. old and I know it took a year to establish but can not remember more than that.