Here The Generous Gardener is very big, say 7 x 7' after three years. It's a nice, dense, upright shrub that has been resistant to blackspot so far. Flower is very attractive. There is little repeat, but then the huge crop of hips isn't deadheaded; it's not my own plant. I don't know if any of this applies to California. We have a growing season of 7 months and summer highs usually in the 80s.

Jerome, I'm glad you've survived the deer plague and are back in business.

Jerome -- For Southern California, Clair Martin suggests that, as a "rule of thumb," DO look at the catalog description.
If an Austin is described as being less than 4 ft., it will probably be 4 ft. or less.
IF, OTOH, it is described as 4 ft. (or taller) it's going to be a Jolly Green Giant.

Jeri

My CPM is about 3 years old and is now big enough to go on a tall pillar. It's in a semi-shaded spot and I didn't really do a lot for it the past 3 years (drought conditions made it tough). I don't think it's going to be a monster, but it's going to be bigger than 4x4. My Perdita is about 3-4 feet and will throw out a tall cane now and then, but hasn't shown a propensity to octopus out like CPM and some other Austins. But it is also its 3rd year so it may go through a growth spurt.

My CPM was overwhelmed by the adjacent lemon tree, so it did not do much the first couple years. This year I cut back the lemon and CPM is doing much better. It does appear to do the Jolly Green Giant thing and I agree w/ buford that it could be pillared. Not sure how big it will eventually get.

Jerome, my Harlow Carr was about as tall as yours in year 3. I shovel pruned it just a few days ago because the flowers absolutely hated the heat here. Do the blooms do better for you?

Ingrid

My CPM is the counter-example because it (or she) is 4 years old and still a weakling -does not cover a 5' tripod. Maybe because it is in full sun and in my experience in my climate no Austin did very well in full sun, so I went against my experience when I planted CPM in the south side of the house in a bed among other roses, of some that were supposed to be only 3-4' tall but reached 7'. Not CPM though, that, crying out loud, is a climber, in principle, after all. But none of the rest is an Austin in that bed.

Ingrid, Harlow Carr blooms are lovely, but don't last really long. The stems are so teeny that you can't pick 'em and so thorny that you wouldn't want to. I like the fragrance a lot. I have some of them in afternoon shade areas, and they seem to do better.

Many Austins that are listed as 4' in their catalog are nothing near that tall for me: Glamis Castle - maybe 2'...I am not going to prune it more than deadheading and removing leaves in January (to tidy it up) ever again. Golden Celebrations are smallish for me (pruned too hard - they didn't like it here - not vigorous enough), I stopped pruning Charles Darwin last year. Perhaps this will change if they build up some vigor. Janet is throwing out some thick basals this year (year 4) - they just take a long time for me. That's fine...I'm learning patience. Sorry for writing so much.

Nobody else with experience of The Generous Gardener? I'm curious about the question of repeat bloom.

Jeri - "For Southern California, Clair Martin suggests that, as a "rule of thumb," DO look at the catalog description.
If an Austin is described as being less than 4 ft., it will probably be 4 ft. or less.
IF, OTOH, it is described as 4 ft. (or taller) it's going to be a Jolly Green Giant."

Thanks for that! That's a good way to think about it and makes it easier to guess on sizes! :)

My Austins are only in its second season, so I may not be qualified to give its true, mature attributes.

I have two Generous Gardener; one in full sun and one in morning sun only. It is no surprise that the one in full sun is not as robust as the one in part shade, probably due to our HOT summer temps.

Last year the full sun specimen grew to 4 feet tall with pale blooms that do not last on the bush as long. Shaded specimen grew to 6 feet tall; well, one cane was 6 feet tall while the others were around 4. Blooms had a hint of pink in the shaded garden and lasted longer than the sun specimen. Both are more upright in grow than CPM.

CPM has not indicated sheÂll be a "climber" in my garden. Her growth is more sprawling  no octopus cane yet. She is in full sun and grew to no more than 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide last year. WeÂll see if sheÂll "climb" this year.

Scepter'd Isle is outstanding! Love this rose!!! More upright in growth, 4 feet tall by 2 feet wide. Growth habit similar to Queen of Sweden if you have QS.

Hope you find this info useful,

Audrey

I thank you all for this information. It is very helpful.