We look forward to seeing some pics. It will also be interesting to see how YL grows in other parts of the country since since places like California and Texas are notorious for growing extra BIG Austins.

Maybe in another year or two, YL's canes will get stronger, but I have to admit that I let my Buff Beauty sprawl outward--its long canes extend about 6 ft outward on all sides--and she makes quite a showpiece that visitors often admire, so maybe YL will be an attention-getter like my Buff Beauty.

If anyone else grows YL, how about letting us see your results so that we can compare?

Kate

Spindly, horrible, dreadful plant with glorious flowers.

I haven't had mine very long but I already have a horrible, sinking feeling that mine will be a duplicate of hoovb's. I so looked forward to having this rose after everyone praised it some time ago, but its growth habit is totally wrong for where it's planted and, even in a more suitable spot, I don't think I would love its sprawly habit. Probably just another erratum in my ever-growing list of undesirables.

Ingrid

Has anyone got him on a tripod or large tuteur?

I write this reply to people so often re lycidas lol. It needs to be cut to encourage branching. literally 6-12 inches max per stem then cut cut and cut again until you have a fractal looking frame. If you leave the stems long they collapse. think azalea or some other shrub - that's what it needs to end up like. I don't know why da don't include some pruning hints for varieties like this to stop people getting infuriated by it. I have one that has been in since it was released and it has a trunk at the base that yu couldn't get your hand around and from about 3 or 4 inches above the ground it is branching into dozens of dense stems that end up smothering the entire plant on huge scented blooms. It doesn't do much from the base once it gets going.

Here's one plant...

And the other. Tough to get plant shots at this time of year. The wall behind is 4'. I moved this one in April (I think?) of this year, so it's still recovering. There is more moisture in this spot so I hope it improves. That solid blob of foliage at the upper right is neighboring 'Tamora', who is a monster of foliage and canes and flowers.

This is mine, much denser growth, there are one or two long canes that are new growth, they will have to be cut back this winter.

I grow mine in a pot, pegged. This is YL in the spring, after a hard prune in Jan.

This is YL in the summer--after a light prune--notice the long canes on the right!

This post was edited by prickles on Thu, Nov 14, 13 at 19:33

Don't laugh--because it's a losing battle and I'm getting lazy--YL in Oct.

Maybe I need to give mine some fertilizer.

Here is a photo of mine, I highlighted were the blooms are, since they are not near the plant.

After seeing those pictures, I can only conclude growing YL will be "challenging".

Ingrid

I have concluded that it is going in a pot and will be closely watched. OMG!!!

Lynn

Caldonbeck's picture shows the value of traditional shrub-rose pruning. Take a firm hand with roses that throw long shoots.

1st year - nice rose.
2nd year - loses its leaves, blooms are not pretty, it gets blackspot, the shape of the blooms and the growth habbit reminds me of a Tea rose. Not impressed.

This is the Young Lycidas here. I don't get the floppy canes, but it is pretty compact. Not in a great spot and it was bad last year for lack of water. It's doing better this spring, and I'm going to make sure to supplement it with hand waterings.

Beautiful flowers, that's undeniable, but this rose scares me. I will just admire it here when it's shown.

I don't understand why Young Lycidas would scare you, Ingrid. Mine is extremely healthy, and I have never sprayed it. It is a profuse bloomer with beautiful individual flowers that are old-fashioned and very fragrant. It does have some canes that flop under the weight of the big, heavy flowers, but that is becoming less and less of a problem as the plant matures and develops more and more substantial canes. I just cut the weak canes short after they have bloomed. I have a number of favorites in my garden, including Olivia Rose Austin, Tamora and Boscobel, but I would say that Young Lycidas ranks up there near the top of my list (my Olivia Rose Austin is so beautiful at this time that I am unable to consider any other rose to be my favorite).