When you confine the roots in a pot, the plant will produce top growth. In the ground the anchor roots will grow into the surrounding soil and that's where the majority of the energy will go. One the ground planted rose roots well it will soon catch up to that in the pot.

Good luck. Own root HTs are woofers for me. My oldest, (Not) Natasha Monet, has finally gotten canes of some thickness to support a bloom of reasonable size, and it have been in the ground for 6 years. Less than 3' tall. Sengodea finally has a basal, three years, 4' tall. Pope John Paul II is still short, 2', but the blooms are HT sized this year.

Plus, I really do hope Neptune is vigorous -- because I've never yet seen a mauve HT like that that was really vigorous.

Jeri

Jeri, my Neptune, grafted on Dr. Huey, is very vigorous.

Neptune has been somewhat slow to develop here. It is grafted, but still rather small beginning year five. The canes are thick now and it does produce fantastic blooms.

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