In the hot South, it starts out slow -- maybe taking 2-3 years to get waist-tall. But eventually, after many years, it can be huge. There's one in the Natchez City Cemetery probably 6 ft tall by at least 8 wide.

Malcolm

and in Daytona Beach-ditto to 8 by 6 and I trim it back twice a year to keep it there.

Personally I would give it four feet from the center of the bush nearest to it, unless it is Mutabilis then five feet. Most teas do not grow very large here compared to other warmer areas. My Bermuda Catherine Mermet is planted right up against the house and it is the only monster sized tea at ten feet wide. A second bush of the same variety was planted out by the parking strip and it got no taller than two feet.

Lance

I agree with Malcom....it's a little slow to establish. I purchased mine in May 2006 and it is now about 3x3. Fortunately, I have allowed room for it to attain the 6 ft+ that it's rumored to grow to. This rose has the best foliage of ANY rose I have grown. Wish it came in red, apricot, pink, etc.

Mine is still young ... about 2 ft tall by 3 ft wide in its first year. I just wanted to chime in to agree with jardineratx ... SPICE has, by far, the best foliage and plant shape of any rose I've ever grown. It's not very thorny either. I wish the blooms were larger, but it's a great rose.

Randy

{{gwi:316130}}
Spice 5yr old planted as three gallon.
8 by 6 now after fall pruning will be 10 by 8 by spring.
How big it could be,can't say space limits.
Its been this size for three years.
Look at the bottom of plant and you will see the trick to growing it big-quickly is treating it as a standard.Remove the growth from the first three feet and plant will put out its normal growth above that with long arching branches instead of a dense mass if the growth was concentrated at ground level up.
Other advantages are-
easier to feed and water.
easier to remove deadwood
no snake nests.
I did the same to a MvH and its 16 by 9 now will be a couple of more by spring.
So its not just Florida but 30 years of growing ornamental fruit trees.lol

pete41 - what a nice shape yours is! I really like it. I don't think mine will be that big, I am about as far from Florida you can get in the US! :o) I would love to grow ornamental fruit trees, especially citrus. (Did when I lived in CA) Can't here though. Must talk my husband into that greenhouse. Nice to hear from Randy and jardineratx about how pretty a bush it is. I just love delicate foliage. It is going into my 'delicate' bed. Marie Pavie, Everblooming Cecile Brunner, Perle d'Or, and Sombrieul will be close-by. Glad to hear too paparoseman we can grow teas here! Isn't Sombrieul a tea? How's the fragrance of Spice?

Hey, pete41, great job on that lovely Spice. I have one, too, new this spring. I was wondering if you could post more photos of roses around your house. With the house in the picture it is easier to gain perspective on the size of things and how larger roses look in a yard. I'm redoing my front yard, and I have no clue how to visualize what these new teas and Chinas are going to grow into. Your photo of Spice is very helpful, but it's a good thing you said it is 8 x 6, because I wouldn't have guessed it. Is that really 3 ft of bare legs under the foliage? Yes, VERY helpful, Pete.
Thanks so much.
Sherry

I have yet to figure out how to photo bushes and get true perspective.Since they are round the center make them look smaller.Usually I lay a ruler in front.Yeah thats true 8 wide.lol
Yes.that was trimmed to be a three foot standard.

Thanks for your effort, Pete. Do you think a photo from a low angle (kneeling) would work rather than from a standing position? Thanks again. I realize you could be fishing, but you've chosen to help me.
Sherry

Very interesting pruning technique, Pete. Thanks for illustrating with that picture. Your Spice looks great.

Randy

WOW! I never knew Spice could look like that! I was actually thinking of pruning Mutabilis that way. Now that I've seen this picture, I think he would look great.

Sandy